In Loving Memory

3 years ago today, on St. Patrick's Day, my grandpa passed away. At the time we had were living with him and my grandma after making the move out to California. I am so grateful that God gave me those last few months to spend with my grandpa and watch him play with Kayla (then only about 7 or 8 months old). She loved to pull herself up on his leg and bob up and down. And he was so tickled every time she did.

He was a man who suffered much in his life, but he was a man who brought much joy to others. He loved his San Francisco Giants and his San Francisco 49ers and would have been especially proud these last few years with his beloved teams. He told stories of sitting in the box at 49ers games long ago, and sending messages down to the coaches using a much less technological method than we have nowadays. He was an outdoors man and didn't allow a childhood injury keep him from doing things he loved to do. He told many a story and threw in witty jokes now and then too. He was a husband, a father, a grandpa, a great-grandpa, a teacher, a coach, a friend.

Chris and I played and sang at Grandpa's funeral. Grandma had one song request and it was for the song Onward, Christian Soldiers, an old hymn. She remembered that he would always belt out that tune at church service whenever it was chosen.



We miss you, Grandpa. Our prayers and our love will be with you always.

Prayer of St. Patrick
Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, King of my heart.
Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me, shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising, light of my life.

Christ be in all hearts thinking about me, Christ be on all tongues telling of me,
Christ be the vision in eyes that see me, in ears that hear me, Christ ever be.
Amen.