My Papa has always held a very special place in my heart. Growing up I saw him nearly every day. Nana & Papa lived right up the field from us - the farm my parents own was Nana & Papa's. And before that, it was Papa's parents.
Papa always helped on the farm for as long as I can remember. And my mom & dad and us kids helped Nana and Papa often.
I spent many summers mowing their lawn, picking weeds, cleaning house, washing windows & doing anything else to help. We would spend HOT summer nights in their cool basement as they had AC and we did not. We would go up there about one night a week and the adults would play cards and us kids would watch movies or TV and eat popcorn.
One summer, Papa had a stroke & we found out he had diabetes. The Dr's told him he would probably never be able to do farm work again or drive tractor. The whole family rallied around him and encouraged him and he was far from giving up. He proved them wrong and did both those things. That summer I spent the majority of my time at their house. He was unable to drive his blue truck during recovery of the stroke so I was the illegal "truck driver." I would drive up each day through the field and help with whatever they needed help with.
For many of the reasons illustrated above, when Lucas & I moved in with Nana & Papa it was not a big deal to me - I was extremely grateful. When i would tell people, some would cringe as if it was the most uncomfortable thing, etc. it wasn't. It was the opposite. It had always been my second home & now was more important than ever that we were there.
At the end of August 2011, Papa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he was given 3 - 6 months to live. We were devastated. & we were reminded to live each day to the fullest - Papa would never let us forget that.
The following pictures are some ways he lived life to his fullest...
