Great Grandpa's Pumpkin Roller: 5 years later

 

 Since the day she was born Lydia and her Great Grandpa had a special relationship, she referred to him and my Grandma as "The Greats" and she was his pumpkin roller. Why pumpkin roller I don't really know.....other than can you think of anything cuter than a baby in a pumpkin patch?

The Greats were always so cute with her, she loved to play at their house and they loved having her there.

 

She would help them get ready for bed, tucking them in and getting cotton for Great Grandma's ears so she couldn't hear Great Grandpa snore. She loved to tap dance for them. Every Saturday evening we would turn on the Lawrence Welk Show and she would put her church shoes on and dance her little heart out and they would clap and clap. This also would happen when they would watch Singing in the Rain.

 

Right before Lydia's third birthday we found a bear in a trench coat that sang "Singing in the Rain" and my mom decided it would be the perfect gift for her. A few days before her birthday Grandpa got sick. We were told that he would have a few days left and I knew in my heart that he was going to pass away on Lydia's birthday. He wasn't responsive to hardly anyone and as the days past the less responsive he came. He gave Lydia the most wonderful gift he could give. The last words he spoke were to her, she had told him she loved him and he opened his eyes and said I love you to pumpkin roller.

Lydia and her Singing in the Rain bear

Lydia's 3rd Birthday

Shortly after her party Grandpa returned to his Heavenly Father and his mother and father who he missed so much. Every New Years Eve he would tell us "Today's my moms birthday, she would be__ today" (Happy 109th Birthday Great Grandma Greer!) It was a blessing that he was no longer suffering from Alzheimer and dementia but him passing on Lydia's birthday makes the day bitter sweet. She has a hard time with it, I try hard to remind her of their good times and the precious gift he gave her and continues to give. It has been 5 years and we miss him so much!

Lydia 8 years old

Shortly after her 8th birthday Lydia had her tonsils out (I will tell more of that story later) and she had complications like I did. She was kept over night and the next day in the hospital. I felt so alone up there, Alex was home with our other kids and my parents where working and Lydia slept a lot. I would watch her sleep. And wonder if there was anyone watching from the other side, and if so why couldn't I feel them with me?

Lydia and I resting at the Hospital

When we got home she came into my bedroom and said, mom do you remember Grandpa who passed away? I had a dream he came to me, he was wearing my favorite shirt and he told me to tell you not to worry that "Grandpa is here".

 

Knowing the special bond they had of course it would make sense that he would be watching over her and me from the other side especially during her tonsillectomy (I am sure there was others there too). And ever since then I have heard songs that he taught me,  Loch Lomond and Don't Fence Me In. And seen quite a few Tumbling Tumbleweeds.  It makes me miss him very much but I know that he is close and that "The Greats" will be there for Lydia's baptism this weekend as will all of her loved ones that have passed already. If they wouldn't miss it while they are alive, why would they miss it from the other side.

 

In his talk "The Ministry of Angels"  Elder Jeffrey R Holland states:

 

My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.” ¹³ On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.

 

May we all believe more readily in, and have more gratitude for, the Lord’s promise as contained in one of President Monson’s favorite scriptures: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, … my Spirit shall be in your [heart], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” ¹⁴ In the process of praying for those angels to attend us, may we all try to be a little more angelic ourselves—with a kind word, a strong arm, a declaration of faith and “the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.” ¹⁵ Perhaps then we can be emissaries sent from God when someone, perhaps a Primary child, is crying, “Darkness … afraid … river … alone.” To this end I pray in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

 

I know this to be true and I too say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.