Goodbye for Now

Losing one grandpa is hard….losing both of your grandpas in the span of two months is especially sad.  Grandpa Rinn died in November.  He was just a few weeks shy of his 92nd birthday.  Dave and Isaac were able to fly out the weekend before he passed away and spend time with him in the hospital.  Isaac told me, "I don't think that I really cheered Grandpa Rinn up, because he never opened his eyes."  We all assured Isaac that he definitely cheered Grandpa Rinn up!  Though Grandpa Rinn wasn't conscious, he squeezed both of their hands.  Dave was able to read Scripture to him and pray for him before he and Isaac came back to Texas.  Grandpa Rinn passed away just two days after Dave and Isaac were there.  Dave has said over and over how thankful he is that he and Isaac had that time with Grandpa Rinn.  

Dave and Grandpa Rinn in Arizona--February 2007

Christmas 2010

Summer of 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

Early this morning, Grandpa Bailey died of an apparent heart attack in Iowa.  He also was just two weeks away from his 92nd birthday.  The last time we were in Iowa to visit Grandpa & Grandma Bailey was in September 2012.  I always feel so welcome at their home.  Grandma Bailey has a huge stack of photo books in the back room that I love pouring through, and Grandpa Bailey is always up for a good chat on prophecy.  We stopped & spent the night with them on our way home from Minnesota after my sister's wedding.  Isaac loved riding Grandpa Bailey's tractor, and Grandma Bailey loved snuggling Emma.  

Thanksgiving 2010

Isaac and his Great-Grandpa Bailey at the Glider Pilot Museum in Lubbock, Texas
October 2010

Thanksgiving 2008

I can honestly say that I am truly blessed to have known both of Dave's grandfathers for over a decade.   They were both amazing grandpas who loved their families.  They both invested so much into Dave.  Both Grandpa Rinn and Grandpa Bailey were exceptional woodworkers who passed down their skills to David.  

It was such a joy to both David and me to have them meet our children--what a gift that they were both able to meet Isaac and Emma.  They prayed for us to have children for years.  More than anything, both of these men loved God with all their hearts, and it was their delight to share of what God had done in their lives.  Though we miss them both, I can't help but think of the sheer joy they now have to be with their Savior.  

So for now, goodbye.  

"I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand on the earth.  
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 
I myself will see Him with my own eyes--I, and not another."  
Job 19:25-27a

A Texas Christmas

Wow!  So much has happened since the last time I posted!  We celebrated Christmas in Texas, drove to Colorado and celebrated Christmas there, left our kids in Colorado with Papa and Nana while we drove back to Texas, and then moved to our new home!  We're nearly settled…and I'm excited to share pictures from the past month or so.  

First, we celebrated Christmas with my parents on Saturday, December 21.   The evening started out on a rough note with Isaac throwing up halfway through Christmas dinner.  This isn't completely unheard of…sometimes we joke that "it's not a party until Isaac throws up" (awful, I know).  Two minutes later, he was back to his spunky self and ready to play!  We are so thankful he wasn't truly sick, because we drove to Colorado the next day!

Emma and Pop looking at ornaments for the tiny Christmas tree

 My mom had a clue for each of Isaac and Emma's gifts.  She had hidden them throughout the house, and Isaac thought it was a lot of fun following the clues and finding the presents.  

One of Isaac's gifts was a Superman costume (which he calls a "superhero" costume")…once he opened it, he wore it the rest of the night.  

See this awful grimace on Emma's face?  She made this face every time she was opening a present…she was working so hard to open her gifts!  Sometimes, she'd grunt and say "hard, hard" while she tried ripping the paper off.  Don't worry--Isaac was always right on top of her next to her to help her open her packages!

A baby doll with a bottle!  I love how she instantly knew to hold the baby and feed her the bottle….so sweet!

Isaac received a new book about animals, so Pop read one of the stories from it to Isaac.  Isaac can't get enough of reading!

"Hey Emma, do you need help opening your gift?  I'm a superhero!  I'll open it for you!"  :)

My parents gave Emma a miniature set of the Seven Dwarfs and Snow White.  My sister had a similar set when she was growing up.  

All the "boys" liked this gift!  It was a crane truck that Isaac can assemble with the nuts, bolts, and screwdriver.  Dave, Isaac, and my dad all worked to assemble it!  

We loved our Texas Christmas…and we love you, Mom-o & Pop!