My Grandpa

This week has caused me to pause and reflect on things more than I usually do. I find that so often I go about my day so caught up in what is going on that I don't stop to ponder. I think to a degree I've always been that way. It just seems that life can go a million miles an hour when you are working and raising a young family. Things come at you so fast that you don't take time to stop and ponder.

Since Grandpa Willis died this week I have made a greater effort to ponder. I have pondered on the memories that I have of him. There are so many things that I remember about my Grandpa, but probably the most potent memory is of his happy pleasant character. I don't think that I ever, in 26 years, saw my Grandpa upset or angry. He always had a smile on his face. I think I inherited much of that trait from him. I also inherited his unique laugh. If you knew Grandpa, you know what laugh I'm talking about. It is a very distinct chuckle, and he did it often. He would tell a joke, or see a grand baby do something silly and you'd hear his distinct "eheh, eheh". It wasn't roaring laughter, just a light chuckle, but it would always bring a smile to your face to hear him laugh.

Grandpa enjoyed life to the fullest. He enjoyed playing his harmonica, especially when grand kids were there to dance and play along. (and he was good at it...) He enjoyed his wood shop. I have a little wooden rocking horse (well, actually my mom has it now...) that he made for me when I was a little kid. He enjoyed serving the Lord. Grandpa and Grandma served several Full Time Missions. When I was thinking back on my memories of Grandpa, I realized that much of my younger "memory years" were when Grandpa and Grandma were on their missions. I remember looking forward to when they came home. They always had fun stories (and fun souvenirs) to share with us. He enjoyed good visits with family. I remember how as I kid when we'd go to Grandpa's house the boring adults would sit in the living room and talk. It was often a Gospel related discussion. They were boring and we'd go out in the woods and play. Then I remember a transition to when I looked forward to those living room chats. It was fun to sit and listen. Grandpa had a great understanding of and love for the Gospel. You could tell that he truly enjoyed the Gospel of Christ.

I hope I can enjoy life the way my Grandpa did. I'll always remember him with a smile on his face and with a smile on mine.