Blog Hop - Encouragement 8/4/2009

WELCOME!!

This week's Blog Hop is your favorite quote, spiritual passage, life lesson, saying, PHOTO or encouraging thought.

This is Papa! My maternal Grandfather, he was born in 1912 and he is my inspiration! I started thinking about what inspires me and most of all my family does.

But...... Papa, he was amazing, and I aspire to be half of the person he was!!

• He lived through the depression and helped his father when the lost their farm and opened a general store.
• He worked very hard and moved his way up in the Exxon Mobil Company.
• Raised 2 children
• Stayed happily married to the same woman for 50+ years.
• Took care of me and my mom after my parents got divorced. Came over to play with me, taught me so many things.
• Volunteered- He delivered meals on wheels in his 80's.
• Donated money to a few great Charities regularly
• Made friends EVERYWHERE he went!
• Found beauty and imagination in everything he did. Including things off trash piles!
• Said goodbye to 2 loves of his life with grace. My grandma and then after she passed and he reconnected with his high school sweetheart and he lost her too!
• He had a twinkle in his eye and a smile that could light up a room.
• He made me and my mom feel so special! He was always happy to see us no matter what kind of day he had or how sick he was. He opened doors, pulled out chairs.....just wanted to take care of us.
• He had the BEST memory! He remembered everything and if he didn't he had it written down or when all else fails he made something up!
• He could fix anything....with black electrical tape or a hot glue gun.

These are just a few of the reasons that I loved him so much...I could never list them all! There was just something about Papa, everyone who knew him knows what I mean.

Papa passed away last summer just before his 96th birthday in July and Jackson was born in December. I truly believe that god does not close a door without opening a window and I don't think I would have made it through his passing without the excitement of the arrival of my son! It's really funny because I will do a double take every now and then when I look at Jackson because he will make a face or do something that reminds me so much of his great grandpa!

Even though I miss him every day I know that he is watching over me a piece of him will always be with me. Papa made me want to be the best person I can be. But with him it was like he didn't even have to try. I try to remember everyday all those wonderful things he did and the amazing person he was! If I am even just a little bit like him I am so thankful!

Who inspires you? Do you have a special person in your life? I can't wait to read your posts!

Stacy