We'll Miss You, (Grandpa) Dad!

Dear Dad,

I'm too young to know what's been going on this week, but Mommy keeps telling me that you've gone to Heaven to be with God. I'm not sure what that means, but it makes Mommy and Daddy very sad and very happy, all at the same time. That's really confusing to me, but someday they'll explain it so I understand.

Since I won't get to talk to you again, I wanted to write you this letter and tell you how much I love you and how special our time together was. I also asked Mommy, Daddy, and Macie what their favorite memories are, so I'll put them in this letter, too.

Mommy and Daddy say that they will always remember pulling up in front of the house when we would come to visit you and Grandma. As soon as we got our car doors open, you would come walking out of the garage and say, "Hello! What can I carry?". It's like you KNEW that Mommy and Daddy had packed up our entire house and brought it along (even though we were only visiting for a couple of days), and we would certainly need help dragging it all inside!

You were always so excited for us to come visit. Grandma says that you would ask her over and over what time we were supposed to arrive. Then, when it was time for us to go back home at the end of the weekend, you would walk us out, give us all kisses, and say to Mommy and Daddy, "Love you all! When are you bringing my girls back to visit again?". It sure was nice knowing that you loved us so much and wanted to see us all the time!

Mommy also will always remember how smart and clever you thought your grandkids were. You loved to tell stories about the intelligent things that we would all say and do. Mommy thinks that I must have saved all my special tricks and meaningful thoughts for when I was hanging out only with you, because she just couldn't believe some of the things you claimed I would say. She's right! I loved impressing you with my "smarts". But I can only hope that I really DO grow up to be as brainy as you knew I was at age 2!

MY favorite memory of you will always be playing with you in your rocking chair. I loved when you would pretend that you were asleep (and I had you all comfy with your blanket and stuffed animals, just like how I sleep!), and I would wake you up and scare you and make you jump! Mommy took some pictures of us in action. I'm going to ask her if she can put them up in my room so that I can always remember how much fun we had. I know that I laughed as hard as I've ever laughed when we played that game! Daddy uses the word "hysterically" to describe my laughing. Whatever that means.



Macie only got to know you for a few months, but she said that her favorite memory will be the Donald Duck sound you made with your mouth. It was very loud, and sometimes it would scare Macie, but she said to tell you that she still loved it! And so did I. I would always ask you to do it again, and again, and again...

Dad, I'm not old enough to know what it means to be a Christian, but I DO know that Baby Jesus was born and did something very special for us when he grew up. And because you believed in Jesus and loved him, Mommy and Daddy tell me that you're sitting with Him smiling down at us and watching us, even though we can't see you any more, or give you hugs, or talk to you on the phone.

Mommy says that a singer that you really liked sang this song at your funeral. So I bet when he sang this part, you nodded your head and smiled:

"When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Dad, I'm really going to miss you. But Mommy and Daddy say not to worry. They're going to always tell me stories about you and show me pictures, so that when I'm older, I will still remember the fun times we had together. And then, someday, in a whole, whole lot of years, I'll be able to see you again in Heaven. And maybe then you can do that Donald Duck sound for me again?!?

We love you, Dad! You keep watch over us, okay?

Hugs, Kisses, and Nilla Wafers Always,
Ivie