For the Love of Cuteness

Friday was a day for the grandkids to enjoy some time with Grandpa and Grandma.  All the adults from our family (except me) went skiing (you couldn't pay me enough to go skiing after all our family injuries with the sport), and we went to a park and spent the day getting ready to leave the next day.

I'm pretty sure if we looked through his daddy's baby pictures, we'd see the
exact same cheeky smile...  ;)

Doesn't it just look like they're telling some GREAT secrets together?  I think they're actually eating pretend food, though.

Brandon absolutely loves these balance toys!  He's pretty good at them too,
except he couldn't figure out how to get off...

These two decided to go for a walk together, but then couldn't figure out how
to turn around and still hold hands, so they just stood there.  It was pretty funny
to watch!

The resounding message from the week: From generation to generation you are God!

A little boy on our flight came up and started playing with the boys in the airport.  It was fun to watch Brandon
take on a big brother role with both boys.

And with that we come to the end of pictures from our week in Colorado.  It was a real blessing and treasure for us to be able to be there.

Blessings on the rest of your week.

Until We Meet Again (Saying Good-bye Part 2)

How do you put emotions in to words?  Today I mostly just have pictures.

The Funeral

Laying Grandpa to Rest

At first I was frustrated with this picture, but the more I think about it and look at it the harsh light and shadows are really quite a symbol of the emotions of the day.

After everyone left I asked the funeral director if some of us could stick around to watch them lower the casket.

I appreciated how the funeral director laid a rose on the casket, his last respects to Grandpa.

Brandon also laid a flower down.

God be with us til we meet again, Grandpa, for you are already with Him in glory, pain free and sinless!!

Saying Good-Bye Part 1

Since I arrived in Colorado after Grandpa died, I kept having this weird sensation that he was going to come walking around the corner. Everyone deals with grieving differently and it was interesting to watch all the reactions throughout the week. 

The Van Dyks/Vandenacres are singers and every gathering always has a night or two of hymn singing.  It is a special time of worship as a family.

Wednesday evening was "the viewing"...

It was neat to see how Grandma was never left alone or unsupported.  The nurses and doctors too all commented how
supportive the family was in all that happened.  A true legacy of Grandpa's love  and support for his family.

Uncle Gerald (purple shirt) is the only one left of the three brothers.

A special moment between Grandma and Uncle Gerald.

Brandon did lots of watching and asking questions of all he saw. 

A good bit of goofing around too, Grandpa wouldn't have had it any other way.

All Grandpa's children and spouses were there, a vast majority of grand children were there, and all but one or two of Grandpa and Grandma's siblings made it there too.  It was a real testament to God's grace through the generations in our family.
Blessings

Some Catching Up

Well, I've been taking pictures faithfully for P52, they just haven't been the top priority for blogging/or anything else.  So today is catch-up day.

February 10-- "Drink Up!"
Brandon was told to "drink up" lots by the doctors and nurses in the hospital that week and by mommy at home.

February 17 - "True Love"
Grandpa had a true love for his Savior.  He rarely talked about his experiences in the war, but he would tell anyone who wanted to hear about this little New Testament and Psalms.  It was the one he carried in his shirt pocket and it kept him close to his Savior I'm sure during those difficult years.  His love for his Savior was very evident last week.  It's such a comfort knowing he is with his true love today, celebrating LIFE!

And today: February 24 - "Cabin Fever"
Cabin fever to me is being stuck inside all the time with all the rain and so to alleviate the blahs, I decided this was the winter to tackle and finish half started projects.  There are about five I hope to get finished and here's the first one off my list.  I started this afghan three years ago, then took a year off cause I had a baby and well, nothing happens with a new baby in the house.  But I finally finished it off this week--feels great.
 

In other news, this week Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  For a while now my mom and I have been talking about writing a calendar of devotions for kids (like the advent calendar idea/jesse tree) from Ash Wednesday, through Easter and Ascension day and ending on Pentecost.  Brandon really got in to our Jesse Tree this year, so I'm hoping this will help him understand Easter better as well.  Since it's in the very beginning stages, I just threw this poster together for this year with what I had laying around.  As we finesse it more I'll make the "calendar" part of it prettier and more permanent.  But this will do for this year.

Our Ash Wednesday footprint.

Weekend blessings to you all.