Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Visiting Grandpa P

Grandpa P is Mr. Prince's maternal grandfather. He lives at a nursing home 30-40 min away, but ended up in the hospital nearby due to pneumonia. Because Myra HATES the car, this is our first opportunity to see him since her birth. Apparently, he has been asking to see "the baby" for quite some time...

We saw him on Sunday, but he was a little out of it and had an oxygen mask on that made it hard to talk to him. Today he was doing much better! Each of the kids held his hand and talked to him. I brought my camera, but because I was rushing to get the kids out of the car for the valet man, I forgot it! But, the images will be forever imprinted in my mind...

I won't forget how Grandpa smiled as my 3-year-old shyly smiled back at him as he told her she had beautiful blue eyes...

I won't forget the large, bruised, worn hands intertwined with perfect, chubby toddler fingers and the young, innocent eyes looking up at the wise, sad eyes...

I won't forget Grandpa squeezing Myra's sleepy face saying "don't you just want to eat those cheeks" and just staring at her with a quiet happiness about him...

I won't forget my 6-year-old who, as soon as he found out Grandpa was close to 120 (the days God limited human life to) told me we should ask him if he believed in Jesus, so that we could tell him if he didn't. I won't forget how impatient he was to ask him when we got there, nor how Grandpa chuckled as he said "Yes, of course....don't you?"

I won't forget the three different times Grandpa counted the children, always knowing one was "missing" from the five, nor how disappointed he was when I told him Paul was working...

I won't forget how sad the children seemed when I told them as we left that I wasn't sure when we'd see Grandpa again...if we'd see Grandpa again...

I won't forget my 5-year-old saying that Grandpa would be ok if he died because he would be with Jesus and Grandma...

I do so hope we see him again soon...and next time, I'll bring my camera!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Oh my, what a wonderful picture you painted in my mind of the kids' visit... but instead of Grandpa, I pictured my father.

You know today (Feb 23rd) he has been gone 3 years... :`(

~ Mom ~ <3