Missing Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving! It has been a busy day for me and mine. Thanksgiving dinner twice kept us quite full for hours this afternoon and evening. It was great to be able to spend time with family today. In case you didn't know - I do have the best ever! We will have one more Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday to celebrate with another side of our family. This one may well be the hardest to prepare for because it will be the first year we will not have our Papaw with us.
 My sweet grandfather passed away a few months ago and it is hard to think of him not being with us this year. He always sat in "his" recliner and just smiled at all of his crazy grand and great grand kids. I would not wish him back here with us, I am sure he is unbelievably happy and at peace right where he is. It's just that I had possibly the very best grandfather I ever could have hoped for. I miss him. A lot.
Tonight I really want just want mention a few things that made him so special.
 - My grandpa was a humble man. He never once that I saw considered himself better than anyone else. He never thought that he was anything special. As a veteran it was all he could do to be recognized at church on Veteran's Day. He was always the last to stand and the first to sit down.
- He didn't fool around. When I went through my years of addiction and rebellion, he always loved me, but he always let me know that I was making some big mistakes. I know he probably wanted to throttle me, but he never did.
- His eyes. Papaw had the bluest eyes ever. The kindest too. I really miss seeing them light up with laughter at something one of the kids said or did. They were always full of love.
- He loved my kids and all of his great grands. There was nothing better than seeing them interact and watch how much they loved him. He was always laughing with them.
- I never once in my lifetime saw my Papaw mad. I am sure that he got angry (and that he probably had a right to be) but I never saw him lose his temper. Not a single time. What a testimony that is.
- He spoiled us a bit. My grandparents are very frugal. When my sister and I were little they would sometimes take us out after church for lunch and maybe to the store. Granny would always tell us before we went in to not ask for anything. It never failed that once she had gone on to look for what she needed, Papaw would take us over to the toy aisle and tell us to hurry up and pick something out. Then, he would go pay for it before Granny could stop him. We learned early that if we wanted something to ask Papaw first!
- He was a forgiving man. Papaw didn't hold grudges. If someone did him wrong, he would accept an apology if offered and if not, he would just go on.
- He was a prankster.
- He was a man of God.
- He loved his wife. He was always doing little things for her. He didn't want us all to notice, but we did. They were married 61 years.

These are just a few of the things that made him so special. There are so many more. I am missing him this holiday, but I am so very thankful for the years that I had with him. Thankful for the impact he had on my life, the role model he was for my husband, and for the love he showed my children.