Life Lost & Lessons Learned

Grandpa Joe at Benji's OSU graduation 

On Monday, our family suffered another loss.  Grandpa Joe was taken to his eternal home.  After the devastating loss of my Grandpa Carl, I thought that no one would ever come close to filling the void that was left by his passing.  Then Granny invited Big Joe to meet our family.  


If there was anyone else in this universe that complemented Granny and made her happy after the loss of her dear husband, it was Joe.  She beamed with excitement and was giddy every time they got together.  I knew it wouldn't be long before they were married. They were married 5 years ago on a beautiful July afternoon at his home.  From that moment on, we were all a family.  Joe took us in and treated my family as if we were his own.  For nearly 6 years, he was a very important part of our lives.  I don't think he ever realized the extent of our appreciation and respect for all he did for us.  

Olivia loved him and knew him as Grandpa Joe.  She loved to visit and spend time at Grandpa Joe & Granny's house.  She was most excited about the play-set that Joe had recently built for the grand & great grand kids.  She told me that she was glad she got her hug before they left her birthday party on Saturday.  She asked on our way home from our camping trip Tuesday if she could go see him "because he was still there in his chair" and that we just had to "go check".  She's still a bit young to fully understand what exactly happened.  I'm sure it will sink in as these next few days come and go.  It's never easy to help a young child understand that they will never again get to sit on his lap or hear him bellow her name when he sees her. 

The Shelby County Fair will never be the same either.  Benji and I had come to enjoy spending time there with Grandpa Joe and listening to his stories about the 'good old days' of the Fair.  We learned so much from him.  Grandpa Joe was so easy to talk to.  No matter what you talked about, it was met with a fantastic sense of humor to keep the mood light and casual.  He had the best laugh and jokes.  I honestly believe that is what made him such a special person and made him "one of us".  


I know his death has to be especially hard on his children & grandchildren.  He loved them so much and only wanted to best for them.  It seemed to make his day when they visited or when he went to see them preform in sports and 4-H.  Although busy lives kept us all from getting together very often, when we did, it was like we had always been family.  The kids all got along and played well together.  Olivia would talk for days about her cousins at Grandpa Joe & Granny's house after a get-together.  I hope we always stay family.

Olivia & Grandpa Joe at the fair

After any death comes a season of change.  We will all adjust and find a new normal.  Holidays will be hard as they come and go.  We will always come together and something will trigger a memory and then we will talk for hours about "remember when".  The first year is the hardest as everyone adjusts and pulls a new life together.  I pray for the comfort of Granny and Joe's family as they do this.