Do you have someone in your life who passed away and every time you think about them your eyes well up with tears? This is how I feel every time I think about my Grandpa. A couple of years ago he was diagnosed with his second round of prostate cancer. He had battled and conquered it over 10 years before he died. I remember calling him when we found out we were pregnant with Riley. He was so overjoyed. I could hear it in his voice. He remarried a wonderful Christian woman after my grandma died. You see, he never wanted to be alone. He rode motorcycles, traveled, golfed, etc. He was very active and lived life to the fullest, literally! He did everything big!
Jim and I would go down to visit him in Palm Desert where he lived in a beautiful gated community on the golf course. Jim couldn't wait to get down to see him. My grandpa really loved Jim. The relationship that they formed in such a short amount of time was amazing. When my grandpa came to our wedding, he knew Jim would take care of me for the rest of his life. As we danced, he told me how proud of me he was. He loved me so much!
His wife called me the morning he died and needless to say I was hysterical. Not only because he had passed but I really wanted him to have the chance to hold Riley just one time. Riley was born a week after he died.
When Riley was 12 days old, we drove down to Palm Desert for his Celebration of life. As my dad and aunt introduced all the kids, grand kids and great grand kids, Riley was the last to be announced. Riley brought so much joy to our family on a weekend that would have been filled with only sorrow otherwise.
Jim and I will often talk about him while we lay in bed. We miss him dearly and he would be so proud of us today!
