A blessing and a loss

As I was rocking and feeding Cayden today before his nap today,  I was thinking of how wonderful it will be that all 3 of the boy's grandparents will be at lunch on Sunday to join us in our family celebration of Carson and Cooper turning 6. 

It will be nice getting a picture of all 3 boys with the 3 special grandparents they have. However, one very special person is and will always bring missing in these celebrations. 

7 years ago, we were preparing for our last family trip (not knowing it was our last) and a big surgery for my dad this time of year. It is hard thinking of all the joys and lessons the boys would have experienced with him, all the memories they would have. I imagine him embracing them, them sitting on his lap having conversations with each other, him correcting them and trying to steer them down a better path than he chose when he was young. Them witnessing his example of your word being your bond. Him getting a second chance to love on little ones and help raise them up to be strong men of God. 

For now, the boys will get a chance to be loved on by their other 3 grandparents and make memories with them. Thank God that I can confidently assure the boys that one day the WILL meet Papa Larry and hug him and play with him and do all the special things that Papas and grandsons do.