almost a century...

yesterday, my father in law who was almost 91... passed away.
he will be greatly missed.

he has four children and seventeen grandchildren, who he absolutely adored!
he was their #1 fan
he was a wonderful father, granddad and father-in-law. he was very active in his children's and grandchildren's lives. we lived very close to him, so we were blessed to have him over a few times a week.

he came to baseball and soccer games
he loved to come to church with us, especially for the children's primary programs
he'd come over on saturdays just to hang out
he took the kids on individual dates weekly! and would usually get them some lunch, an ice cream and a toy- my kids were so spoiled, but thats ok;)
he never forgot a birthday, even mine

he was always my first visitor whenever I had a new baby
he supported school events and always encouraged the kids to try their best at school, he valued education
holidays were a sure thing; trick-or-treating at halloween, thanksgiving dinner, reading the story of christ's birth on christmas eve, easter egg hunts at easter...
he attended yearly family reunions
he was always present for baby blessings

and the kids loved to visit him at his home. he always had the best food. the good pre-packaged junk food: totinos pizzas, egg rolls, cheese blintzes, those little packaged pies, cookies and candy, lots of candy. so the kids loved to eat there. we loved to eat there. and he always gave the kids balloons. balloons will forever make me think of him.

  he always told me how much he loved my kids and what a good job i was doing as a mom and wife.

i don't know what we will do without him. it will be hard, he was the life of the party... 

this weekend we will be celebrating his life with a memorial service. it's hard to think about closing that chapter of our life. we won't see him anymore, or hear him anymore, or go visit him at his house.

he was my father-in-law, and friend.

i will miss him.

he was funny even when he didn't mean to be.

he couldn't whisper to save his life.

he was blunt and stubborn.

but he always made me feel good about myself.

he always told me i was a good mother.

that meant something.

there are so many things i wish i could have done or said before he was gone.

so for all you out there, let people know the things you appreciate about them, before you can't anymore.

i believe, with all my heart, that we will see him again. that my kids will yell "granddad!!!", and get to run into his arms and give him a hug and kiss. but until then...

we will miss you

we love you

you were a good dad and granddad.