saying goodbye

while mckinlee and i were in waco for the start of her 2 week stay with family and friends, my grandaddy lost his battle with cancer.
i hate this disease. it robs people of their dignity and makes you witness pain and suffering no human should ever have to go through.
grandaddy, however, was never one to look at the negative side of things, so in his honor, this will not be a negative post! :)

he was the sweetest man and had the strongest will imaginable. 10 years ago was his stroke/accident we just knew would be the end for him. he overcame amazing odds and stayed with us all this time.
i never heard him complain about anything. ever. when asked how he was, his standard reply was always, "i'm all right."
even after his stroke, which affected his speech, he had a great sense of humor. when i visited him after he broke his hip in december, he told me, "i like pretty girls!"

we are so sad to not have him anymore, but so glad he is not in pain. we look forward to the coming resurrection jesus promised when we will all be united together again on earth.
(Revelation 21:1-5, John 5:28, 29)

here are a few pictures i could find that i've taken of him.

this was taken a few years ago at the 'follow the christ' district convention

here i am with them. i love his smile in this one. whenever i think of him, this is how i picture him.

mckinlee with her great-grandparents

this is where he was most comfortable--relaxing outside in the heat with his hat on.

he and mama jeanne were married 68 years--what a great example for all of us.

this was in december when he broke his hip. we came to visit him and uncle nathan was there playing his guitar, so mck and i joined in singing a song for him.

he was able to go home and i'm so glad he got to spend that time there--being where he loved to be.

probably the most important thing grandaddy taught me is to always have a smile on your face, never complain about things and when asked how you are, just smile and say, "i'm all right."