Remembering Grandpa

Long before I was around; Grandpa and Grandma with Auth Hazel in between

My Grandpa Olsen passed away this morning. It is hard to be away from home at momentous times like these. My grief is mostly for the fact that I have been away from home for 12 years with very few visits in that amount of time. You miss so much when you are far away, and for that I am sad.

But mostly there is just surface sadness at his death. My underlying feelings are of gratitude and joy. You can't ask for much more than 90 good years of life! I am grateful for his example and for the choices he made that have affected me so much. I am grateful to have known him in my growing up years and to have felt loved by my grandfather. I am so grateful for the memories - little things like him sitting at his high-tec DOS-based computer, his rubber golashes in the front closet, the static-y radio attached to his bathroom wall, the pile of newspapers by his chair at the table. Also moments, like his walks to the basement for popsicles, climbing up into the attic, him pointing out tomato types in the garden, waving from the front porch as we screamed "BYYYEEE!" while pulling away from the house, playing the harmonica. Then the really important things, like him giving me my patriarchal blessing on my 15th birthday and taking no less than 4 hours to do it. Then letting me type my blessing up myself on his computer with his cool foot-pedal recorder. And especially having him come to my wedding and seal me to Dave in the temple. For that I am most, most grateful.

Outside the MTC on their way to their mission in India


And I am joyful for the gospel knowlegde I was born into because of him! What a difference it makes when pondering death. I am so happy to think of him reunited with Grandma, to know that he has not ceased to exist but is now just continuing in a new path! I am grateful to feel certain that his life has been pleasing to the Lord and we don't have to worry about where he is headed. And to know that he is free to be the great man of faith and works he is, unburdened by his broken-down body. What great joy it brings to know that I can see him again, later, and we can all be part of a huge eternal family. That is the greatest blessing there is. And I'm glad for the chance some of my children have had to meet him. Davin hasn't, but he is coming home with me for the funeral so that counts! :)


Caden at 3 months old with Grandpa at Mary's wedding
Caden, about 15 months on a trip home. Grandpa didn't bother to put his teeth in for the pictures :)

I am so, so glad I get to go home for the funeral. Thanks for all you've done for me, Grandpa. We'll miss you.