Reflecting on the Past Year

Our Last Family Photo

Grandpa and his Granddaughters

  I know this doesn't have anything to do with the title of my blog, but I decided I would like to share it anyway. Reflecting on this past year for me has truly been a lesson in God's timing and his little blessings. (Bare with the story here as the moral does come at the end.) It all started a year ago this morning sitting around the Christmas tree when I thought to myself "I should record grandpa reading the Christmas story like he does every year. There will be a Christmas when we won't have him there to read it." Little did it know a year later he wouldn't be here with us sitting around the tree. I'm so thankful I took the opportunity when I did last year to record him reading the Christmas story so we could listen to it this morning.
    Then one Saturday morning in November we randomly decided to throw together a family picture while we were all together had our host brother who was available to take a picture for us. None of us were dressed up and we were just sitting on grandmas front porch, but it turned out to be one of the best family pictures we have ever taken. Everyone looks so happy! Later that afternoon grandpa was admitted into the hospital for a week and that was the last family picture we ever got. What a blessing!
    Later that Saturday evening I got the unexpected call with the news grandpa went to the hospital. It was during a movie night with two of my friends, and I don't think God could have put two better people in the room with me. As I burst into tears on the phone my roommate (not even knowing what was going on) came over and just hugged me. The two of my friends offered to take me up to the hospital to see grandpa and bare with me while I sat out in the hallway of the hospital and cried before even walking into the room. Those two were so great that night. I am so thankful God picked those two as my friends!
    Then after grandpa was in the hospital for a week, he was released for two days. This was just long enough to see the beginning of the addition to their house that he drew out to add on for Tia to move in. He sure was excited to see it started. God wanted him to see the addition at least get started before he passed away. How cool!
    After being home a couple days, he fell at the house and the ambulance was called to take him back to the hospital.
    That last week was the hardest but I had one of the best people there to support me who knew exactly was I was going through. Sammie was such a blessing to me and was there to let me cry and to visit grandpa with me. She and grandpa had some great conversations together and I know he enjoyed every minute of it! God used Sammie to reach out to me in a huge way that week!
    I got a call from mom the morning of November 20th saying things weren't looking good. I felt God pulling on my heart with the need to write grandpa a letter and tell him how thankful I was for him. I brought Sammie up to the hospital to read the letter for me as I knew I couldn't do anything but hold his hand and cry. Needless to say that letter is tear stained and in a very special spot now. Grandpa was practically unresponsive, but I knew he could hear me. He did mumble to me "I love you" and I then knew this would probably be it. We spent some time up there and left.
    Later that evening I got the call that grandpa went to heaven and oddly enough, I felt the biggest weight lifted off my shoulders and I felt comfort in knowing I did tell him everything I did and I got to see him that morning. God knew I didn't need to be in the room when he passed.
    The day of grandpas private burial was also Grandma and Grandpa's 48th anniversary. There was not a cloud in the sky. It was an absolutely beautiful day!
    The day of the funeral service was perfect weather for everyone to get here safely which was great. Having already had the private family burial of grandpa, his service of course I did cry, but it felt more like I was attending church than a funeral. It was amazing! I thank God we did it the way we did burying him privately and later having the "celebration of life."
    If you have stuck with me through this whole long story that's awesome (I have always been one slow to the point of things haha) so here is the lesson in it: Gods timing is absolutely perfect. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has made everything beautiful in His time." This has been a huge lesson to me looking back on the past year with the little blessings that God gives us and the absolute perfect timing he provides us with. We often go out and make our own plans and think the way that we do things is going to work out perfect, but God surprises us with something different and even better in His time.
    I am so blessed this Christmas to have received the most precious gift of all. A baby born in a manger whose hands years later was pierced for our transgressions and died for our sins. Without that gift of eternity, I wouldn't be able to see my grandpa again! The best gift I have received did not come wrapped in paper and sitting under a tree, but from a stable Bethlehem where a baby was born in a manger many many years ago. Happy birthday Jesus and Merry CHRISTmas to everyone!