Monday, November 5, 2012

Saying goodbye to Gandpa Mike

This post has been hanging over my head for days.  I don't know where to begin.   I keep thinking about that John Lennon quote, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
With three kids, life is always happening.  Every moment someone is sharing with you, needing you, loving you, counting on you, looking for you, missing you, asking you, or screaming at you.


Last Sunday night, Dave got a call that his dad was gone.  Totally unexpected.  Totally surreal.  I still keep waiting for Mike to call and check on me; ask me why I haven't posted to the blog this week.  He was, in part, the reason I started this blog and kept it fresh with pictures of our daily life and special moments.


Mike loved us, all of us.  And that is no small gift.  My children are still very young, but they will carry that love with them.  To know that someone treasures you gives you a sense of purpose and joy.  When I think of Mike, I will always be grateful that he planted that seed of love in all our hearts.  And I will do all I can to care for it and help it grow.



 

  We made it through the week.  Two soccer games, two Halloween celebrations, a beautiful funeral, and all the while I have wondered what the kids will remember of this week when they are older.  I know they'll remember the tears, but I hope they'll also remember the friends who walked with us- overlooked the mess of our home and our hearts and ate with us and laughed with us.  I hope they will remember how happy their family was to have them present.  There is no greater comfort when facing death than a new baby.




 Rosie won't remember Mike, but she will know that he loved her.  We will make sure of that.


Mike's sister, Marcia, told me today that the sadness will pass but the memories will last.  There are a lot of good memories.  Not enough, I wasn't done making them, but I guess that's true whenever you lose someone you love.  We'll have to go on making good memories and carry Grandpa Mike with us in our hearts.  I know he'll be along for the ride, wherever life takes us.


 Now, since I'm really not good with words.  I'll leave you with the sweetest thing I saw today.  A brand new memory.






Much love to you all!

2 comments:

  1. Hey Laura! Thinking of you! This post hits home, as my mom's recent passing was also sudden and unexpected, but we were surrounded by friends and family who loved us and overlooked our mess of life, too! I love that about how the pain fades but the memories won't -- and we will have to share many memories with our little Calvin about his grandmother, just as you will share many with Rosie about her Grandpa Mike! Love to you and yours -- maybe we can get together sometime soon and share some stories!

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  2. That was a nice tribute; I am glad you have so many happy memories, and glad that Mike got to experience the joy of your wonderful children.

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