More Reality

Today, I sit in the kitchen of my parents home. My last living grandpa just passed away and I am in town to be with family and to attend the funeral.

I've been here a week already, but the funeral is still not for another few days. I am glad to have this time to be with family, but also bummed my husband is not able to attend the actual funeral itself. He had to go home to fulfill work responsibilities.

One of the great perks of being married to a teacher, however, is spring break. And certain benefits like bereavement. Ours happened to coincide.

 It was so incredibly nice to have my husband around to help my daddy with everything around the farm. Especially when my daddy has been so stressed and saddened by the passing of his own daddy.

Sunday night we were all able to go up to Grandpa's hospital room before he passed away and spend time visiting as a family, talking about our thoughts and memories of him. We sang primary songs and a few church hymns.

The spirit in that room was incredibly strong. And I couldn't have thought of a better place to have been on Easter than there, with a man who would soon be leaving his mortal existence--knowing that death in this life is not the end. Because of He who died for us, that we might live again.

Singing the primary hymns to my grandpa that day, it was hard to not feel moved. It was the most I could do to keep from crying. But it wasn't out of sorrow. I do cry, occasionally, because of sorrow. But it is rare.

I am not a crier. But if I do cry, it is usually because of a deeper emotion. A more poignant and gracious emotion of love. And I felt absolute warmth and love wash over me in that room that day and it summoned the water wells of my heart, I suppose. Cheesy as it sounds.

I am grateful for my Heavenly Father. For the Eternal Plan of Happiness. To know that I will see my grandfather again. To know that this life is just a pit stop on the path towards eternal progression and peace.

And I am grateful to be able to spend this precious time with family. I hope my children come to love and appreciate their own grandparents, truly and deeply. I love them so.