Last Wednesday, my 95-year old grandfather - "Pappaw," as all the grandkids called him - passed away. He had not been doing well and had gone into the hospital Monday night. I went to see him Wednesday and walked into the room literally five minutes too late. I'm so sad that I didn't make it in time!Here is a picture of him with his wife of 52 years, my "Mammaw," who passed away in 1988. We all still miss her very much!
My grandparents were very special people. You see, when my father & his twin brother were only three months old, their mother died. She was Mammaw's sister. My biological grandfather was unable to take care of two infant babies, so Mammaw & Pappaw took them in. Less than a year later, my grandfather died. After that, Mammaw & Pappaw legally adopted the babies, although they let them keep their last name. Pappaw didn't want them to forget who they were.
"Adopted" is not a word used in our family. My father & his brother were just as much Pappaw's children as his own were. In fact, to hear my aunt talk, I think they got a little more attention than anyone else! I love listening to stories of them all growing up together. Times were hard, but they all loved one another very much. My Pappaw is holding the twins on the far right of this picture. (Click to enlarge.) His he a proud dad or what?
Here is one of the last group pictures of Pappaw with his four remaining children. (Sadly, my father's twin brother passed away in 2002.) It was taken at a family get-together in 2008.
As sad as I am to have lost my last remaining grandparent, I know that one day I will see them all again. And at that time, the Bible promises, "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." (Rev. 21:4)
