May 4th

May 4th- The day started with such joy...we found out that our friends from Omaha, Jess & Rob Schneider had their baby boy!  Jackson arrived safely and was healthy!  We continued the day by attending a First Communion for Luciano Ragonese....we hadn't seen the Ragonese family since Naples so it was great to see them!  It is so nice that we live so much closer about 30 miles or so. It is amazing that we have friends all over the world!

As we were leaving the party there was a sharp turn of events.  I got a call from my sister as we were leaving...I figured I would call her back on our way home.  The phone rang again and I knew something was wrong.  Then as I looked further at my phone I had missed a bunch of calls.  My Grandparents have been ill...both fighting influenza.  But they were doing better.  My Grandpa was scheduled to go home that day so I figured it was a call that everything had gone well.  It wasn't.  Apparently, things for Grandpa didn't go well through the night and he was having a hard time breathing.  He wasn't going home.  The staff there administered morphine for pain and the dosage was maxed out meaning it was just a matter of time.  As I was on the phone with my Uncle Jody, he and I got word that Grandpa had passed.  There are many good things as he was surrounded by his entire family, he was able to participate in communion and speak with the Pastor from his church that he had attended his entire life, and was not in pain.  This being my only Grandpa it was more than difficult for me.  But as always my family pulled me through.  Bill has a way of making me feel better in all situations.  He told me about a sermon that he had heard once....the pastor was talking about all the flowers there are at funerals....and he said give me my flowers while I am living!  This made sense to me!  I got to see my Grandpa on face time the day before and he actually said goodbye to me and had spent some time with him when I was home.  He was really concerned about us making it to Virginia.  I talked to my Mom and my Grandpa had asked if we made it and she didn't know.  He told her she should go home and call me and then come back and tell him.  I had never heard that kind of concern from my Grandpa before.  I have so many great memories and have more than a little bit of his stubbornness in me.  But in the end I am glad that he didn't have to suffer and was surrounded by love in his last moments.  Here is how I remember him......someone who wanted you to believe that he was so tough....but one smile from Addison or Landon and he would totally melt.  I will certainly miss that grin and those amazing twinkling eyes!  

My Grandpa's funeral was May 8th.  I traveled home alone and Bill and the kids stayed in VA.  It was a tough decision but we thought it was better that way.  It was nice to see the rest of my family and be there for my Grandma.  She is one amazing woman!