when i got to your apartment that day, you were sitting in your armchair. i sat on the sofa beside you and we just held hands & cried together. i couldn't bear to look at the birthday and anniversary cards - from Poppy's 94th birthday and your 65th wedding anniversary - that were scattered around the room. on the entertainment center shelf, on the ottoman, the floor. i gathered them up and put them in a plastic bag along with his glasses and two magazines that were beside his bed. i even took the instructions for his daily exercises. i don't know what i was thinking. i guess i wanted to hold onto the last thing he'd been reading. and those glasses - those big, thick, brown glasses were just, so, Poppy. smudged & dirty lenses. they have some glitter on them. from the cards, i guess. but knowing Poppy, there's really no telling where the glitter came from. i used to clean his glasses a few times a day. now i want to keep them just as they are. i'm going to put them in a shadow box.
i don't know why i'm writing about this. admitting it. it's a little embarrassing, but something brought me here and made me start telling this story.
i sat down last night to go through the cards and stick them to cardstock for your notebook. i was especially moved by the note from Aunt Martie. for Poppy's 94th birthday, this is what his 90 year old sister had to say:
Dear Arthur,
I'm so sorry you and Lillie missed my big "90" birthday. All my family gave me a beautiful party in Synodical Hall.
Can't believe we are now in the 90's - what happened to all those years. ??? God has been good to us. I send you, my "favorite brother," love, hugs, prayers and joy. May God hold you very close.
A big hug for Lillie.
"Your sweetest sister -" Martie
i turned the card over and there's a Bible verse on the back. i didn't glue the card all the way down, because i want you to be able to read the back.
"for i know the plans i have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
jer 29:11
i pray that you find comfort in knowing that Poppy's passing was all in God's plan. i pray you're reminded that even though we weren't expecting it on that day, at that time, it was all a part of the plan and that God has given Poppy a great & glorious future. just as He said He would.
may God hold you very close.
i don't know why i'm writing about this. admitting it. it's a little embarrassing, but something brought me here and made me start telling this story.
i sat down last night to go through the cards and stick them to cardstock for your notebook. i was especially moved by the note from Aunt Martie. for Poppy's 94th birthday, this is what his 90 year old sister had to say:
Dear Arthur,
I'm so sorry you and Lillie missed my big "90" birthday. All my family gave me a beautiful party in Synodical Hall.
Can't believe we are now in the 90's - what happened to all those years. ??? God has been good to us. I send you, my "favorite brother," love, hugs, prayers and joy. May God hold you very close.
A big hug for Lillie.
"Your sweetest sister -" Martie
i turned the card over and there's a Bible verse on the back. i didn't glue the card all the way down, because i want you to be able to read the back.
"for i know the plans i have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
jer 29:11
i pray that you find comfort in knowing that Poppy's passing was all in God's plan. i pray you're reminded that even though we weren't expecting it on that day, at that time, it was all a part of the plan and that God has given Poppy a great & glorious future. just as He said He would.
may God hold you very close.
And Poppy had a good, long life! He is very lucky to leave the earth in his 90s and still have people miss and love him. He is very lucky that he has you for a granddaughter.
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