grandpa, my hero

Hey kids, I'm back...a little bit. I've been sick with the dreaded flu since Wednesday, and my fingers hurt too bad to type, but I've missed you!

Yesterday at 11:58pm marked one year since my grandpa died. I miss him every single day, and because my family and I were with him for about the last 14 hours of his life, right until he took his final breath, it seems so fresh, like it was just last week that he left us. These are some of my favorite pictures of him (very image heavy)...

My grandma and grandpa were a HUGE part of my life for as long as I can remember. I had a special suitcase I'd pack for their house, and I even kept a toothbrush there since I stayed so often. In high school, I even lived with them, and I can say that it was the happiest time of my life (I still miss living there sometimes).

The things I miss most about my grandpa are his hugs and kisses, his unconditional love, his overwhelming generosity, his dance with his hands on his knees, the candy he'd hide in his pocket and give me during church, and his sweet smile. I know that everyone says this, but he truly was the kindest and most selfless person I've ever known, and I promised him that I'd try to live a life that would make him proud.

24 comments:

  1. That is so sweet, it's so special when people have such close relationships with their grandparents. I am very close to my grandpa and the amount of stories that are shared are so extremely special.
    I'm glad you're feeling better and hope today is filled with good memories about your grandpa.

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  2. this is such a sweet post.
    grandpas are such a wonderful blessing!
    it's so special that you have so many great memories of him. i hope your day is filled with these!
    :)

    xo!

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  3. That is so sweet! I remember when my great grandpa died and how hard it was..he went to a better place though:) I wish I was closer with my grandparents..at least I know my parent's are going to be the best grandparents ever once I have kids! My mom is a big spoiler and will totally but their love I can see it now.. haha! Have a good day!

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  4. I am happy you are feeling better, Danielle. I am sorry about your grandpa, but it is nice that you were able to be there with him.... And your photos are wonderful! It is so nice that you have so many wonderful memories and that you were close with your family!

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  5. just beautiful.

    the memories and the words.

    all of it.

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  6. i love that first picture of your grandpa. thank you for sharing this. although you made me miss my grandpa who passed away 2 and 1/2 years ago.

    my grandpa had one of his legs amputated below the knee a few years prior and hated to use his prosthesis. but, when i got engaged he started practicing with it again because he was determined to be able to dance with me at my wedding....the first grandchild to get married. he passed away a few months before the wedding. it was sad, but he was in pain so he was better off.

    thank you for making me stop to remember my gramps today.

    hope you have many sweet memories of yours today.

    xo
    {Lauren}

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  7. This is such a lovely post i love all the photos. Its so important to remember the people who make our lives special and complete. I think i will ring my grandpa today and tell him i love him. Thanks for sharing this with us.

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  8. I love your post dedicated to your grandfather. It is touching. I love the fact that grandparents always time to listen and love their grandchildren. I love my grandmother on my father side. She helped me make an apron for one of my dolls with a prewar sewing machine a long time ago now. In her pockets, she always had eucalyptus candies covered with sugar of course. I am glad to hear that you are feeling better. I had to get two flu shots (I have never did it before) as my OBGYN highly recommended for me since I am pregnant and more at risks. I love how chronologically you showed the pictures of your grandfather. Have a good day!:0)

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  9. i'm sorry to hear about your loss. it took me ages to get over my own grandpa passing. it was one of the hardest things, especially when you cherish someone so much, so special.

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  10. That was very tender sweetie!! Makes me think about my Grandpa! *hug* I hope you feel better and kick that flu in the butt!

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  11. Danielle, very pretty post. Dad was one-of-a-kind. There's a part of me that doesn't believe he's really gone. I fool myself and then reality hits me. I love that picture of your "kissing" him...so sweet!

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  12. i have missed you!!!

    i love family photographs... the one with the funny eye glasses is classic! and the tricycle. I love the memory of him having candy in his pockets during church :) and that you had a suitcase packed...

    what a great tribute to him and it's nice to know you were with him for that long at the end of his (what is i'm sure, wonderful) life.

    xo

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  13. Granpas are so nice. I love the old photos. I havent had granparents in a long time and I certainnly wasnt able to be with them in their last moments.

    Thats very special.

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  14. awe i love my grandpa too. miss him dearly. your gpa sounds awesome! sneaking candy in church! my kind of gpa! why dod they always wanna fatten us up? hahah
    my gpa had a thing for snickers.
    xo
    hope your feeling better now. i got sick again and its the worst!
    im sorry lovely!
    xo
    Brandi

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  15. Grandparents are amazing. I miss my ponga dearly. Yours so sweet and I love all the photographs. You are so lucky that you got to spend his last moments with him. I wasn't so lucky. I didn't make it home from Lubbock in time to see him off and I cry every time I think about it. Grandpas are so special. Thanks for posting this.

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  16. This is beautifully written- only a eulogy a loving granddaughter can write.

    i'm so sorry but the memories and lessons learned will never leave you.

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  17. Danielle you left me in tears. I was just as close to my grandpa. And what's crazy is the day he passed was in my grandpa's birthday. He was born Feb 28th, but he passed 5 years ago on Valentine's Day.

    All my love to you and your family. I know how it is. Grandpa's are amazing, and I believe they show their love the best. I always felt so engulfed with love around my grandpa.

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  18. sorry to hear you were sick:( hope your better now!

    thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures with us :) I can you loved your grandpa very much...

    xoxo
    Olivia

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  19. I was looking at the pics of dad again today...love them! Maybe I'm crazy, but the one of you "kissing" him in your little red pants - you kinda look like Tru!

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  20. what a sweet post.
    i lost my papa six years ago and it was very sad for me... i feel very blessed that he was able to come to my wedding and know tyler. he had dementia, so he often thought i was my mom...haha... he was great.
    my papa also always had candy and was a m&m guy...
    grandpas are great.
    hope you feel better.
    miss ya.
    catillionmilliontrillion

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  21. This is so sweet. I never met one of my grandpas, but I like to think that he was great, just like yours sounded.

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  22. danielle! this is so sweet. it's so wonderful to have people like this in you life...especially grandparents!

    hope you're feeling better! xox

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