Thoughts

As I was looking at a picture last week of my grandpa Gilbert in class, the girl I sit next to said "He sure was a handsome man." I have to agree :)
The pallbearers consisted of a son from each family of my mom and her 8 siblings

My heart is full as I think about the past few weeks. My Grandpa Gilbert passed away on February 20th. I was able to go down to Provo, UT for the funeral and spend a few days with family over the weekend. He is the first grandparent myself and my 7 siblings have lost. It is tough. Trying to explain death to Bridger was very difficult. I cried a little when I first heard the news but since we have always lived far away from them, it wasn't surreal just yet.

The closer we got to Provo last Wednesday, the more my heart started to race. I knew the first time I saw my grandma I would cry and I did. Thursday morning during the viewing I cried again as I looked at my grandpa lying so still in his casket. I cried even harder when I took Bridger up to the casket and he said "Grandpa, Wake up!" It was than that it hit me and I realized we are so grateful to know this life on earth isn't the end.

To no surprise it was the biggest funeral I have ever attended. Just a guess there was probably close to 500 people in attendance. My 3 uncles each spoke and shared stories that made me laugh and cry even harder. My aunt Cheryl read my grandpa's life sketch, he was an amazing man. My grandparents raised 9 children, one of which is the greatest mom anyone could ever ask for. They have 47 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. It's amazing to think that 2 people could start a life that would build up to over 100 people.

When we went to my grandparents house for the first time, Bridger asked if he could go upstairs into my grandpa's room to see him. I started to sob as I knew he didn't understand the concept. He told me "Mom, I want to go upstairs and see grandpa now that he's not asleep in that thing." I tried once again to explain things but 3 year olds have a mind of their own and are very curious.

Thursday night was another viewing at the mortuary in Roosevelt (about 2 hours from Provo) where he was buried. Some 200 more people attended that to pay their respect. Friday morning they closed the casket and my grandpa was buried.

My testimony was strengthened last week. What an accomplishment for a person to touch so many lives and at the age of 81 leave this life knowing "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..."
2 Timothy 4:7