Grandpa

Today is a very special person in my life's birthday. My grandpa was born today and so in honor of him I am going to write about him on my blogspot. My grandparents used to live in a little town in Eastern Oregon called Condon. It is about two hours away from the Columbia Gorge. Because it is about four hours away from my house in Salem my family and I would only go up there a couple times a year. My grandpa was in his late eighties when I first realized how cool he was. Whenever we would go to visit I would always hang out with him. He would always tell me stories about when he was younger. My grandpa was a cowboy and he was a very hard worker. He used to help with cattle drives and tamed broncos. He had a dog named Jack who was part black lab. The dog belonged to my cousin and was supposed to be a cattle dog, but my grandpa spoiled it too much and it soon became his best friend. That dog went everywhere with my grandpa.
My grandpa always wore a cowboy hat and chewed tobacco. Every morning for breakfast he would have wheaties and coffee. When he was done with his coffee he would give the rest to Jack. My grandpa would always show me the treasures he had in his garage. He had helped people move to different houses and in return they would give him stuff. He had a purse and an old make up compact that he had from moving someone and he gave them to me. My grandpa had this ring that he wore all the time. It was made of fossils and although it looked worn down it was still really cool. He gave that to me one time when I was up there visiting him. Because he was older he would tell me the same stories over and over again. One time I think he forgot that I was his granddaughter. But I loved to sit and listen to his stories. He was a really cool person.
My Grandpa died about three years ago on Christmas Eve. I was fortunate enough to be on Christmas break when he had a stroke and was taken to the hospital in Heppner, a town about an hour or so away from Condon. When he was admitted to the hospital my dad and I went up to see him. The doctor did not think that he would make it through the night. My dad and I ended up staying with him for a few days. He could not talk and just laid on the bed hooked up to different tubes to keep him alive. Apparently he caught phnemonia and he was not doing well. I remember sitting by his bed just being there with him. I remember leaving his room one time and kissing him on the forehead and telling him that I loved him. I did not know if he was a christian or not and one day my dad left the room for a moment and I sat by my grandpa and read to him the 23rd psalm and prayed with him for his salvation. He ended up dying a few days later.
I felt privelaged to have such a special person be my grandpa. I had hoped that someday my husband would be able to meet him, but that will never happen. So I wanted to take a moment out of my day to remember him on his birthday. I am not sure if they celebrate birthdays in heaven, but I asked Jesus to give my grandpa a big hug for me. After I hug Jesus when I come home I am going to give my grandpa a big hug. Happy Birthday Grandpa. I love you and miss you.