She got her wish...

On a beautiful day in May, the "Houqua" set sail from Santa Barbara for the Isles of the Carabees. This was one of Grandpa Louie's proudest adventures. His final journey was taken tonight just a few short moments ago, where he saw Grandma again and met the Lord.

Grandma finally was granted her wish, the wish to be in Heaven and with the man that she has loved for more than 70 years. They are dancing the Charleston or I think it was called something else back then. They are both in new bodies and pain free, they are together. I can see their hands together and their eyes locked on each other. There is no other place that I want them to be, or maybe with me. But can I tell you, my heart is heavy, I have now lost all of my Grandparents. I have been so amazingly blessed to have them in my life for this long and I know it. But I must tell you that Grandparents are an amazing thing, they are like your coffee in the morning- a comfort. My Grandparents where better than the greatest cup of Starbucks, they were mine and now they are gone. There is coffee if Heaven and so are my Grandparents.



I know what you are saying...Little Miss Emotional one, well, someone has to be and that is the proud me. I loved all of my Grandparents so very much. Tonight I was trying to do the "blog" and catch it up. I wanted to talk about the beautiful service that we had for Grandma yesterday, but now we have lost Grandpa too. What a blessing for them though, to not have to be apart for too long. They both went to Heaven one week apart and on a Sunday. Seth will be happy to know that they both went to heaven on Sunday, a good day to just worship God.


I can't tell you how much that I will miss all of the stories from Grandpa. He loved that Alan and I lived in Ontario, the place that he was raised. I loved hearing all the stories of him taking his wagon out and selling fruit, all of the boyish adventures and well just the plain old days. The greatest stories were the olive stories and the beginnings of Graber Olives. What a treat that was to bring a few cans of those to Grandpa and see the smile on his face in these later years. I know what memories each bite brought him-unforgettable.


I am happy to know that Grandma is with Grandpa yet once again, holding hands and being in love. But, why Lord is life like this? Why does it hurt so much? Is this year going to get better?In under 10 weeks, I have now lost 3 Grandparents and a baby-WHY? Yes, I am screaming that.


Bare with me this is all over the place, but well...

Grandpa, as I talked to Momma today, she said that I could come see you tomorrow. I was so excited, I planned on reading to you...the Cruise Of The "Houqua", but you are not there. You did not wait, I think that Grandma wanted you, I know she did. I promise in the few days ahead, I will come read to you, your adventure- your story.

Many special memories will I forever cherish with Grandpa, they are a life time long. One special treasure was Grandpa's love to cook or BBQ. He could work his magic in the kitchen, he didn't do it very much. But when he did, it was awesome. I loved his Corn Chowder made from scratch that was the best. I sure wish that I has that recipe written down.

Another was the day that we all sat in the maroon Cadillac and the garage door came down on the hood- oops! Grandpa did always cherish his cars, his boats, his wife, his children , his grand children, his great grandchildren and his Lord. And of course not in that order.

Grandpa was Mr. Independent and didn't care what others thought at all. Just a few short weeks ago, Momma told him that his slippers were on the wrong feet and he said "I don't care". Good job, Grandpa.

I loved hearing all of the stories about the globe that they had in their room on Miles Ave. Where he travled, and where he wanted too. I guess now he can do all those things and he has Grandma by his side and the wind won't hurt her ears.

I loved playing scrabble with you and of course I always learned new words. I know that the dictionary was always there, but I trusted you. Just as I did with your stories, and as I grew older I learned that I will never really know if they are true. I think my favorite and I will never know if this is true, was that your Grandmother invented the iron, while they lived here at Lytle Creek, or was it the Train story and the little boy? All of these are precious memories that I will have of you and I will forever hold them to my heart, true or not.

The other night, I knew that they were going to ask for memories of Grandma, well I started writing. I am not in anyway a writer like my Mom. But in times like these, I try. I wanted so bad to be able to stand proud in front of all of those people, but i knew that nothing would come out. But the night before that I tried and here were my words...

...As a very proud Grand daughter , I am here to tell you, yes I have a heavy heart, but a joyous one. I know that my Grandma, lived a complete life. Now she is just waiting for the day the she will lay her eyes on Grandpa's face, yet once again. What an amazing and adventurous life they have lived. It was full of joy, happiness, sadness, trial and tribulations. But never was there a day that they were not holding hands. Not sharing the true meaning of love. This is know way to really describe Grandma and Grandpa, they had true love and all knew it. It just radiated off of them. As I have spent so many hours staring at all the photos, I am reminded of just what a strong family we have. The reason for that is the Lord Jesus Christ-the center of all of us. There is not a day that will go by, that I don't remember seeing or hearing Grandpa or Grandma reciting a verse- by heart. They lived their life for the Lord, the both of them and their amazing family. I really could go on an on, I am the emotional one of the family, but I know we all have sadden hearts. Hearts full of pain, but knowing that they are both not in pain, and in the place that Grandma had longed to go for so long. Grandma was waiting for her Louie, the man she adored, the man her whole life was shared with. They will are dancing in heaven, they are smiling, holding hands and rejoicing. Their lives are filled and complete and we are all celebrating knowing now, knowing that they are together. But, I can't stop crying. The only peace I have is seeing them together. It just broke my heart, knowing that they were apart. Life is complete, life is whole, they are one...time will heal.

More pickles please and bring on the olives...our lives are complete.

You are my Grandpa, the Sailor, the Husband, the Father, the Grand father, the Great grand father, the Friend. The man that our Molly fell in love with. She changed your world, she had you wrapped around her finger. You had a life, a wife and several children. You had adventures, one only dreams about, you faced obstacles without a doubt. You did it all, you did it BIG...you made us proud and now you will forever live again. I Love you Grandpa!!!