Pages in time.

 My grandpa.
The last of the 2 sets of grandparents and 2 sets of Great plus 2 other great-grandfathers that were still alive when I was born. Although I never got to meet those two Great-grandfathers (my maternal grandmother and grandfathers, father's) I did know and remember well all of the others.
I always considered it quite amazing that I had 4 grandparents and 4 great-grandparents for all of my childhood years. I knew many of my friends who only had one or two.

How can you adequately put into a few words your thoughts, feelings & memories about someone, or the part they played in your life?
I really can't.
My Grandparents each fill a different spot in my memories of childhood/teens & young adulthood.
I hope someday to have my grandparent-scrapbook completed to a bit better pass on my story to my children.

My Grandpa was in a nursing home for the last several years of his life.  Suffering from that horrible disease we all hate. The one that steals away your memory, reasoning & quality of life.  Alzheimers.
 Quite a few years before this, Grandpa lost track of his many grand/great-grandkids along with names. (Well, considering how many we alone gifted him with, I'm sure you could understand!)
One of the things I love remembering about him is how he would say "I can't remember your name, but I know you're one of my "kids".

Grandpa's birthday was in July, and the last several years as many of us as possible had went to have a birthday party for him at the nursing home.  Meshayla would be gone this year, and so I was happy that it worked out to stop by and visit Grandpa before she left on her trip.  As it turned out this also was the last time Jeanne got to visit him.  Lyrah had on her squeaky shoes that day, and grandpa got the biggest chuckle out of seeing her run around & hearing her shoes make noise.  It really made him laugh.

Top--My two sisters and I w/grandpa  and  Derek & Zander w/grandpa at his birthday party.
Bottom--our visit the end of May--Jeanne & Lyrah, Grandma Jane and me with Grandpa, and Grandpa w/Meshayla.

 Grandpa was 97 in July this year. Pictures like this aren't the way we like to remember him in our minds, but I'm glad to have them regardless.

My uncles, Grandpa's two remaining son's.

Not so long after this day we got a call that said Gpa wasn't doing well and might have to be moved to a different facility.   We were unhappy to hear that, & glad it didn't have to be done.
 
Life has strange and amazing twists to it.

a couple weeks later
One Sunday morning,
my step-mom called to say he was gone.

Peacefully,
quietly.
Around 7 a.m.
Sunday August 21, 2011

Right near the time that our 8th grandchild, Derek's 2nd son was born.
Around 8 a.m.
Sunday August 21, 2011
Life and Death. 
Joy and sorrow interwoven.

Neveah & Serenity with their new baby brother Wyatt Ray.
Derek with his two boys--Zander & Wyatt--
Derek & Dawn--Neveah, Sernity, Zander & Wyatt.

We're happy to have these sweet grandkids near by to see often!