Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Websites of Interest

http://www.miniature-earth.com/me_english.htm

Appreciate what you have!


http://www.freerice.com

This is a good site to learn and help at the same time.


http://www.patchadams.org

This is a great man with great ideas, soon to come in Spanish (and I know the translator)!

Some pictures to look at!



The fam after I surprised Mom at her party.




Greg, Sarah, Trisha, and I hanging out before Trisha left.




A beautiful Spanish sunset from our balcony.




Greg and I looking at something, I think I really am adopted!

My Grandpa, my teacher, my Hero!



It has been just over two months since Grandpa died, and I have to say I am much happier knowing that he is no longer in pain. I learned so many things from this man, and above all it was to have no regrets. I truly believe that grandpa had no regrets, and he wouldn't want us to be in pain for him being gone. Like Aunt Terry said, he prepared us for death at an early age. I often remember going to the Redlands Community Cemetery, when I was young, with grandpa to play. He taught us at a very young age that death is just another part of life, and we all became comfortable with it. Our family has learned to cope in such an unusual way that we often receive funny looks when we are able to laugh near the grave side.



When Grandma died he showed us that it is OK to grieve, but that it is also important to celebrate.



Grandpa taught us all the importance of family, to be slow to speak and quick to think, to keep the main thing the man thing, and to have no regrets.

Syd said that Grandpa taught us all different things, he reached us all in different ways. This is how Grandpa reached me:


Grandpa noticed something in me that I think he used right away. He noticed my interest for working with my hands, and my abilities there in. Grandpa trusted me with power tools, far before I fear he should have. Grandpa taught me how to:

Roof a house, weld, use a steel grinder, install sprinklers, pour concrete, read a map, plant tomatoes, edge the lawn with an eleven-thousand year old edger, paint, change my own brakes, and to lay brick.

He used these skills to teach me even greater things, and instilled the principles I would need to live life.

I am truly thankful for the time that he showed all of us, but especially his grandkids. He was a wise man and a great teacher, but more importantly he was our grandfather. I will miss him with great anguish but I am glad that he is no longer in pain. I know that one day soon I will see my hero, mentor, and grandfather again.