Have you ever had a smell that has flooded back so many memories? Today I was cleaning, and briefly, I noticed a smell that reminded me so much of my Grandpa. I searched and searched to smell it again, but much to my disappointment, I could not find it. I know I have mentioned this before, but I love my Grandpa very much. He and my wonderful Grandma had my mom when they were 20 years old, and my mom started having children when she was 20. This made my grandparents only 40 years old when they had their first grandchild. Their other children wouldn’t have kids for quite awhile after, so my family was spoiled and had a lot of Grandma and Grandpa time. Through out the years my grandparents would drive all the way from Ogden to Idaho Falls to watch me play basketball, attend choir concerts, watch my siblings plays, and spend holidays. Most importantly, however, they were there when things were hard, and always stuck it out with us.
Some of my earliest memories are of my grandpa. I remember his laugh, how infectious it was. When he was laughing you had no choice but to follow suit and giggle along with him. He had this ability to make everyone around him happy, even if it meant making a slight fool of himself.

A year before he died he and grandma came to visit me in Southern Utah, where I was working at the Ponderosa. They loved Zion National Park, and any excuse to get in their motor-home and travel. They stayed at the resort where I was working and it was great to be able to hang out in their trailer with them and just laugh. My grandpa told some jokes on one of those evenings that made my grandmother blush. These are things I remember most about him. He was so candid.

We took the shuttle tour through the canyon. Living near the canyon, I had frequented the park all summer, but it was something that my grandpa hadn’t done in quite some time. It was so much fun to sit and watch him enjoy the scenery. My grandma, grandpa and I each took our own seats so we could all sit next to the window and enjoy the scenery.

One thing that has always amazed me was his ability to understand. On many occasions, when it was just he and I, he would ask, “Becca, how’s life?” To which I would reply, “Oh, its good.” Quietly he would say, “No, I mean HOW is life…” and from that point it was over. I knew I was going to tell him everything and he would always have the answers or the solutions to make everything better. It has been over 2 years since he has died, but to this day when I am struggling with something, whether it be at school or anything else, I pick up the phone to call him.

This wonderful man loved nothing more than his family and the gospel. I am glad that he was such a shining example in all of our lives. We all have been so blessed to know and love this man we call “Grandpa.”

He will always be missed.