GRANPA CRAVEN's PASSING PART III

 My grandfather's viewing.

I never got close to his body.

He was gone and I knew it and it made me uncomfortable to see his stiff body laying there.

I haven't cried much. I guess it is impart because I was so blessed to have spent so much time with him, so I have no personal regrets. I know he was as close to perfect as a man could be, so he was very prepared to meet his Father-in-Heaven.

He struggled physically over the last year, after suffering a stroke, and he is now free from pain.

There was a lot of rejoicing because we all loved him and we are so proud of his life well lived.

I did start to cry when I saw my little girl crying uncontrollably after the viewing.

I know how empathetic my little girl can be and I figured she was crying because everyone else was.

She told me this on the drive back to Colorado, "Mom, do you know why I was crying at the funeral?" I said, "No." She said, "Because I was thinking about what a neat guy everyone was saying grandpa was and how they were talking about the good times they spent with him. I was thinking how I am going to miss all that. I will never know him like the other people there."

It really stung my heart when she said those words.

I didn't have much to say then but if I could go back I would tell her, "Grandpa still lives because your grandpa is still alive. He is a lot like his father. He is funny and clever and so kind. You will know him because you know his son."

Me and my sister's were asked to sing one of grandpa's favorite songs for the funeral.

Beautiful Savior.

I don't know if we have all sung together in a really long time.

I felt so blessed and honored to sing with them on such a solemn, beautiful occasion.

Grandpa wanted his funeral to last one hour, he said no one was to go over.

I am glad and wonder if maybe impart he made that request because he knew his great-grandchildren would get really fidgety after an hour. My kids were really good during the entire funeral.

In true grandpa style he requested that the speakers at the funeral testify of Christ instead of talking about him.

However, it was really easy to combine the two because grandpa's life truly spoke of Christ.

He loved his Savior and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

           

POI - NEW ZEALAND

 My sister right younger than me served her mission in New Zealand.

 She entertained th grandkids for an entire evening by making poi's with them.

I believe they are used in traditional New Zealand dancing.

The girls loved it.

Sierra never let her poi's out of her sight the whole rest of the trip and she proclaimed, "Aunt Karalee is my favorite Aunt."

I think it depends on the day who her favorite is but this day it was definitely Karalee.

LAZY SUNDAY EVENING continued...

 I wish I was smiling in this picture.

I love my little baby bump.

I guess it wasn't proper to show off your baby bumps in the 50's and 60's.

My grandma informed me of this when I stopped by.

She said in her day she wore a tent dress and no one knew she was pregnant till she brought the baby to church.

I am certain that was possible for her, she is such a petite little thing.

I saw a picture of her tent dress, it wasn't a muumuu, which is what I originally envisioned.

Look up tent dress from the 1960's, they are very classy.

I may just have to make myself one.

ROOT BEER FLOAT on a lazy SUNDAY EVENING

GRANDPA CRAVEN's PASSING PART II

 The kids got along so well this trip.

We hardly even noticed them. It was a huge a blessing.

They collected rain water together and then started extracting it from the gutters.

They were so happy and so proud.

This day was shortly after grandpa passed. I got to say goodbye. I was glad.

I went over to my Grandma's house and got to sit with her and talk to her.

She said, "I am going to be one lonely old lady." It broke my heart in two.

I wished I lived closer so we could visit more, but I know my sisters and my parents will take good care of her.

I was holding her hand and talking to my Uncle Curtis, who I haven't seen since we were in dental school. My Aunt Diana came over and said, "Mom, you look tired would you like to go and get ready for bed." She got emotional and said, "No, the nights are so long."

I thought of how much grandma and grandpa loved eachother and how hard it would be to sleep next to the same person every night for 60 plus years and then have to go to bed alone.

It broke my heart. Mostly, because I know of the deep affection they had for eachother.

They had a true love and deep friendship few couples obtain in this life.

Grandma said, "I wish I had of cared for him more."

I weep with shame when I think of her words. She doted on him and treated him so well.

She became a housewife in the 1950's and she never lost the class and grace from that era.

She ironed his shirts, cleaned his home, and served his meals and loved every minute of it.

GRANDPA CRAVEN's PASSING PART I

 I got a phone call from my parents on Monday, July 9, 2012 saying if you want to say goodbye to your grandpa you need to come home now.

I can say it was one of my top worst phone calls.

Although, my grandparents are getting older and they certainly had lived a full life. I honestly thought this day would never come. I thought they would live forever.

This was my second experience with death but my first experience with some related to me that I knew dying. (I had a cousin die of SID's when I was young but I never got to meet him.)

(Grandpa was such a special part of my life. We grew up one street up from him. Every guy I was serious about, had to pass the grandpa test. If he didn't get grandpa's thumbs up then I would break up with him.

He had a quick wit and a humor that everyone loved and could giggle at.

He was an amazing example and the only person I have known that I could say was truly perfectly Christlike.

I have so many great memories of him but the thing that sticks out the most was knowing how much he loved me. He would never let me enter his home or leave without a big hug.

I will miss getting my hug, but because I know families are eternal, I know I will have more hugs from him!)

My girls were so excited for another trip to grandma's house.

(I was sad to make the trip alone again but because of all the changes in our life Nate couldn't pull away although he loved grandpa dearly too.)

The girls love there cousins and had a blast.

Madison played with these dice for hours.

When too many cousins joined their fun they collected the dice and snuck upstairs and hide in one of the rooms to play alone with their dice.

They created all sorts of mischief with their cousin Kate.

They emptied out the entire linen closet one day.

On the day of the funneral, wearing their beautiful dresses, they snuck into grandma's bathroom and emptied all her essential oils into cup, added her lotions, and soap and then stirred with with her nail file. They also powdered the flower with her eye shadow.

Although it was naughty, it was funny.

A NEW ADVENTURE

Nate decided to open his own practice about six months ago.

The day finally arrived.

He opened his doors two and a half weeks ago.

He has been working part time at Colorado Community Dental and part time at his new practice Yes! Dental.

He will be full time at his new practice at the end of next week.

Yeah, for change.

It is a little bit unsettling taking a riskier path but I am proud of him for having the courage to do it.

Go Dr. McKnight! I am proud of you!

Doesn't he look so happy?

He has been so happy since making this decision! 

OUR BABY

I went into my ultra sound today and was so excited to see my little baby.

I have been through this two other times, but I was still really nervous.

I was so happy to see my little baby up on the screen.

I got a little emotional.

I think I could have watched that screen all day.

They said I was measuring exactly 12 weeks and 3 days so I was spot on with my due date of January 14th.

They said the baby looked well.

It was bouncing around and moving its little hand and leg.

I was so happy.

August 30th is my ultra sound to find out the gender of the baby. Mark your calendar.

I am beating on another girl, I think Nate is too.

The girls both say it is a boy and Madison asks how baby brother is every day.

I say, "Maybe its a baby sister."

She shrugs her shoulders.