Tribute to Leonard aka Grandpa

Last week we found out that my Grandpa Kraft was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer.  He had prostate cancer a few years ago, and since then it has continued to attack his body.  Today, he is no longer in his body.
Grandpa Kraft was the only grandpa we really knew, since my mom's dad passed away when we were really young.  
Death is such a weird reality.  I live in the reality of Christ and He defeated death!  That doesn't make the loss of someone super easy.  There are still emotions and those emotions are even harder when you're not sure if that person is God's child.  The reality of that is tough.  What do you do with that?


I want to take a moment to reflect on my Grandpa, from what I knew of him and who he was to me. 


We weren't close to him.  He lived in Jacksonville with my Grandma and Kurt.  We grew up, anticipating visits from him and my Grandma throughout the year.  They would bring up treats for us, food and random things my Grandma had purchased at yard sales.  I always remember my Grandpa being stern with us, never really wanting to be around us as little kids.  One year at Christmas, he and my mom got into an argument about how loud we were, and he and my Grandma ended up going home early. 
He would always do this thing with his jaw, moving his bottom teeth to be in front of his front teeth, like an under bite.  He would try to get my Grandma to hurry, by repeatedly calling "Wilma, Wilma."
He harshly told me I needed to go to counseling in high school because of my picky eating habits and small frame.  He gave me money my second semester of college last minute, because my parent's couldn't afford it.  He always wore khaki's and sweaters.  He cursed often.  He was a really slow driver. 

The last visit I had with him was in March.  It was totally a gift from our good God.  Our grandparent's have not wanted to be bothered.  They want to sit in their house, take their medicine, and continue sitting.  To make a long story short, Reed, Kory, Alanna, and myself drove to Jacksonville to have dinner with them.  Just dinner.  It was so good though.  My grandparents weren't able to come to our wedding, so that was the first time they met Reed.  It was also their first time meeting Alanna, Kory's girlfriend.  We all set around a table at Olive Garden.  We talked and were able to see them face to face, which hadn't happened for 2 years.  He was able to meet my husband!  It is such a good last memory.  (above photo)


My thoughts are all over the place right now.. that is how I am going to leave this post.

This moment

Two days ago I finally had sinus surgery.  For the past few years the ENT and allergist have strongly encouraged me to get it done.  I have to say, I already feel better!  I know that the lovely pain pills I am taking are helping me feel this way, but I can breathe through my nose, which was rare before!  So I am spending a lot of time in the bed, making a list of things to do, and getting back on this blog is one!

Reed and I went to the beach last weekend with some friends of mine from college.  It was so much fun getting together with people you don't see on a weekly basis and spending a few days with them.  Charleston is one of my favorite places in the entire world, and I love spending time there.  The cobblestone streets, the trendy boutiques and people, the salt air, the good restaurants.. I love it all! 
It was great to be away from the normal scheduled life and live with no cares at the beach!  Reed didn't really know any of the people that were there, except for my friend Stacy who was also a bridesmaid in our wedding.  Reed, however, is great with people, and just becomes best friends with everyone.  God has given him that gift!



Since I had surgery, I have felt very loved by God.  He has given me a sweet husband, who is patient, kind, and gentle; parents and in-laws who are caring, and special friends like Greta and Alise!  I'm so thankful for the community our Father gives, and the grace he lavishes on me, when I don't deserve it.


Some of my list of things to do while out of commission are:
Update my reading lists:http://www.goodreads.com/
Clean out my email
Organize my recipes (they are all over the place)
Continue reading Radical and other books
Watch "Waiting for Superman" - our recent netflix selection, about public education
Prepare for Frazee summer
Lots of sleep