This picture above? These are my grandparents, Bill and Mary. They are my dad's parents and they have lived across the road from my house my entire life. They helped raise me and spoiled the heck out of me! After all, I am the only girl granddaughter and after so many boys, I was a welcome relief! This post is dedicated to them and all of the wonderful things they have always done for me.... including giving me a donation for this trip. So bear with me and continue reading.... I'm going to reminisce and I promise it is worth it!
Over Easter break I was able to go home and spend time with my family. I was confronted with bad news though and my Grandpa told me that my puppy had died.... he wasn't really a puppy anymore, but to me he was. When I bought him they said he was a rat terrier, but that was not right. He was a Heinz 57 dog, 57 different varieties of terrier! His name was Jaydus. JDS. Jack Daniel Sauce. If you have ever been to TGIFriday's, you know that special sauce that I am talking about that they layer everything in. I got Jaydus in high school after a trip to TGIFriday's. Somehow that name just fit for him :) My grandparents live right across the road from my house and eventually my Grandpa took him since my dad didn't like him. Plus, he could run around more over there. I have never seen my Grandpa get very upset about anything, but he really was upset about little Jaydus. He showed me where he buried him and I noticed that his collar was hanging from the tree right beside the grave. He also told me that the tree was a Dogwood.... how very appropriate. Grandpa showed me how he had put these beautiful flowers beside the little rock marker as well.... then he told me where he got the flowers. He stole them from my Grandma's little dollhouse flowerbed behind their house! I asked if she was mad and he just couldn't stop smiling :) After talking to Grandma I realized just how much she loved that dog too. She always pretended not to like him, but it was evident she was also upset. I honestly feel like Grandpa related the puppy to me and felt like somehow he had let me down or something since he had died....I just wanted to share this story because I think it's a good indicator of just how much my grandparents care about me and how much they mean to me. I think I talk to one or both of them almost every single day. Walking to class, in between jobs, during homework breaks.... even if it is only for a few minutes, I absolutely love those talks. Gram fills me in on the gossip throughout the week. I call Friday mornings when she is at the beauty salon and that is the time that I get to catch up with Gramps. They mean the world to me and I wouldn't be the same person if I would not have had them in my life.
My mother's parents died before I was born so I never had the priviledge of meeting them; I think this is part of the reason that I am so incredibly close to my dad's parents. Everyone always talked about having two sets of grandparents who lived far away and I never really could understand that as a child. All I knew is that my grandma picked me up and took me to school everyday until I got my license. My Grandpa would turn on the TV afterschool to that painting show and I would fall asleep seeing beautiful pictures painted before my eyes after one of them would cover me with a big blanket. My Gram always knew how to scope out the best rummage sales and Grandpa never ever misses and early morning listening to the Open Air Market on the radio. Don't laugh, he is always able to score some awesome things from that show! He has came home with goats before and once he took my brother and me to a farm and let us pick out some chickens! All of the holidays are at their house and Gram never fails at making a few things for me: hard boiled eggs, ham, orange jello with tangerines, her amazing homeade rolls, and macaroni. Gramps used to help me climb up to the attic to get the Christmas tree down.... now I try hard every year to come home to help them decorate the tree. It is one of my favorite traditions. Grandpa is a complete anomaly. He turns 75 years young the day that I leave for Africa.... he still is the most active and driven person I have ever met. I love driving down Hillcrest Road and seeing him mow that HUGE lot of land or raking gumballs from his yard. This is a pretty large task considering how large his "yard" is. Now I know she would kill me for saying this, but my Grandma is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. Her pictures from high school? She looks exactly like Marilyn Monroe but I am pretty sure that she is better looking!
I know I have been rambling but I don't think they realize just how much they mean to me. They could never even begin to understand how to work a computer so I know they will never read this, but I want everyone else to know. I put on a really brave face, but I am very scared to go overseas to Rwanda. My Gram wouldn't even let me say the word "Africa" in her house for quite awhile! They are really worried about me (just like my parents) so I ask for everyone to keep me in your prayers so that they will have nothing to worry about anymore :) The truth is, the example that my parents, brother, and grandparents have set forth for me truly has given me the strength, drive, and heart to do this. My mom will probably kick herself after reading this post if she believes that she could have done something differently to prevent me from wanting to go, but honestly? All I can do is offer my thanks for making me into the woman I have become.
So to my grandparents, thank you more than you will ever know. I thank you for everything you have ever done for me and also for this amazing donation. I love you both with all of heart and I promise I will be home soon!
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