the one that went before

So, I keep thinking back on how last year started. Jan 6 was hard, yesterday was hard...I'm sure to have more hard days as the year goes on. However, I am also remembering all the amazing conversations I had with my kids about grandparents, how I remember them, stories about things that happened, etc. With each death, the kids wanted to know more and more about "back when" and I loved to share what I remembered and they shared what they remembered. We have had a great time.

Then, there were some unexpected conversations about Grandpa Wells. The kids, of course, never knew him here on earth and they wanted to know what he was like, how he was with Grandma, what it was like to live so close to them, etc.

I told them quite a bit and we laughed. We got on google earth and looked at all the land Grandpa owned and that I had free run of when I was growing up. We dug out the video tape of Grandpa sitting in his brown chair and sharing stories. We laughed some more. Wow, how amazing that was! I was able to share my grandfather with my kids.

I am eternally thankful that dad has the foresight to make that video. I am really wishing now that I had one of the other three. I will remember them, my kids will remember them, but memories will fade and eventually disappear. I will take those memories and enjoy them while I have them but will think about how to share more of me and my life with my future (way in the future) family.