The best way to have heaven in your home is to have someone you love in heaven.

We’ve been blessed this summer with the opportunity of caretaking my 89 year old widowed Grandpa. As many of you know, about 3 months ago, Dan and I moved into Grandpa Zwick’s house in Salt Lake to take care of him. 

Straight from our honeymoon, here! We love him so much but I have to say I’m so excited to only have 3 days left.  

There’s nothing like starting out your marriage as a threesome!  

Even though it’s been hard, serving him has made me love him in a deeper way and appreciate the little things in life, as he does.

Things I’ll miss:

-Waking grandpa up and opening his blinds to see him look out and then ask every day, “Sunshine and flowers today?” “Yes, sunshine and flowers grandpa.” 

-Seeing him kiss my grandma’s cute picture on her funeral program several times a day.

-Tucking him into bed and telling me over and over again, “Thank you for your help sweetie.” Made the whole day worth it.

-Hearing him pray over his food a few times throughout the meal because he forgets he has. He never misses prayers. Such a great example to me.

-Playing sequence together and letting him win because it makes him so happy when he does.

-His jokes. Old people jokes are always so dumb and that’s why they’re so funny.  Giving him his pills and his consistent reply of, “I’m already a pill, I don’t need more pills.”

-Sitting on the two rocking chairs on the porch and talking together.

-Eating ice cream together. ALMOST EVERY NIGHT. Definitely a staple in his book.

-Him singing to Nat King Cole in the car.

-Driving passed his schools and he tells us stories about teachers like Mrs. Bend who he and his friends nick-named, “Scooter Bend” because she’d walk so fast down the hallways and lean her body almost horizontally as she turned corners.

-I laugh every day because he asks my husband, “Did you do much ice skating, Son?”  As if he did.  It must have been cool back in Grandpa’s day.  He just told me today he’d buy me a pair of ice skates for Christmas so we can go together down at Liberty Park.  Sometimes I think he thinks I’m his girlfriend. 

-How he admires and appreciates God’s creations.  His fascination with clouds and flags especially.  Always saying stuff like, “Look at that little cloud.  It looks like it got away from his parents” as he points to two larger clouds.

-How much he loves my Grandma and talks about missing her.  He reminds me of how wonderful she is every single day. 

(The list could go on.)

Things I won’t miss:

-Waking up with him in the night, calming him down from a Vietnam War nightmare.

-Trying to cheer him up when he’s missing Grandma.

-Catching him when he falls.

-Literally wondering if he’s still alive when I go to wake him up.

-Blasting the TV, his music, and talking loud so he can hear.

-Always wanting to bring his sweater if we leave the house.  Even when we tell him the hot temp outside.  

-Cleaning up after his accidents.

-Making and buying him soup.  Soup in 100 degree weather.  Yep, all he ever wants.

-Getting him in and out of the car, house, bed, chairs, and more. 

-Trying to distinguish between his and Dan’s white shirts, garments, and church socks when folding clothes.

(This list could go on too) :)  

But I know it will all be worth it when I see my Grandma again and she thanks us for caring for the love of her life. (Really, love of her life… they went to kindergarten together, lived a house a part, and grandpa tells stories about walking her home from middle school together!)

My husband has been such a trooper--always talking to Grandpa, helping him with yardwork, taking him to visit Grandma's grave, watching sports with him, taking him to Priesthood, and more.  I am so grateful for all his help with Grandpa because I definitely could not have done it alone. 

 

Aren't they cute?

Grandpa Zwick loves Dan.

We are ready to have our own place, finally crack open all those fun new appliances people so generously gave to us for our wedding.  And you know me, I can’t wait to decorate.

3 months down, 3 days to go and then , back to Provo!  I know, lame, I’m excited about Provo.  Provo!  Ha ha.  But I think you would be too.