Thank you SO much for all the comments & prayers concerning my Grandpa. Each one of your comments has meant so much to me. I love our blogging community. Y’all are so sweet and supportive.
Last Sunday my family traveled to Pawpaw’s hometown of Jennings, LA. Wow, he was so organized! Pawpaw left us a folder with all the details of his funeral and his last wishes. He included things like life insurance policies, the funeral home he wanted us to use, the church where he wanted the service to be held, and a poem written by his father that he wanted read at the funeral. He even wrote his own obituary.
At the graveside, the U.S. military did a 21 gun salute and they each saluted his casket. They folded the flag over his casket and presented it to my Grandma. She gave it to Pawpaw’s best friend, my brother. It was a touching ceremony. We will really miss him but we know he’s in a better place.
Thank you again for all your prayers and encouragement. I love y’all!
My sister printed the poem Pawpaw's father wrote and a photo for the guest to take
We got to walk through the house Pawpaw grew up in
A visit to south Louisiana isn't complete without having authentic Cajun food
It was hard to think about Christmas this year or get into the Christmas spirit. On Christmas Eve, I finally managed to wrap my presents and bake sugar cookies. We ended up having a nice Christmas. I hope y’all had a wonderful Christmas. I can’t wait to catch up on your blogs.
It sounds like a lovely services. Your presents and cookies are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour wrapping paper is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteKeeping ya'll in my thoughts...
I'm glad you and your family enjoyed a nice Christmas. Your pawpaw was looking down smiling I am sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was a nice service. P.S. Your presents are soooo cute!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got to be with your family during this time. I've missed you!
ReplyDeleteYeah! you are back! Your grandpa's services sound so beautiful. So glad you had a good Christmas in spite of things! I'm off this week so call if you have time and we'll catch up.
ReplyDeletethe service sounded perfect! the house he grew up in looked so neat! love old houses!
ReplyDeleteChristmas must have been tough! hang in there!
love your presents! they're wrapped soooo cute! and the cookies are adorable!
That pic of your grandparents is precious. I'm glad the services turned out exactly like your Pawpaw would have wanted. Your presents were gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYour were in my neck of the woods! I live in Iota!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very lovely service.
I'm loving that wrapping paper! Very pretty!
I also lost my grandpa last Spring, and it sure was a tough time. He too had planned the entire service years ago - it really made it nice for my family, not having to stress over getting things together at such a hard time.
ReplyDeleteThoughts & prayers to you!
Oh Jill~ I am so glad you are back. You were in many of my thoughts and prayers during the past couple of weeks and my heart just ached for all that you had to endure. But it sounds like the service was beautiful...a true honor to your PawPaw and his memory. I love the poem and thought it was a neat tribute that your sister printed it off with his wedding photo for the guests. I can't believe how organized he was... what a great blessing to all of you. And I love that your grandma passed the flag on to your brother...I'm certain he will treasure it always!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you did have a nice Christmas though. And your presents were wrapped so BEAUTIFULLY! Just the perfection I'd expect from you...such a keen eye for detail!! :) Welcome back dear friend, and praying that you have a blessed 2010! <><
love ya,
~Tanya
What a beautiful poem! And your pawpaw and mawmaw were such an attractive couple. We've kept y'all in our prayers during this holiday season. Again, I'm sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeletePraying,
Gigi
Your ability to share such a deeply personal and emotional time in your life is inspiring to me. It give me the courage to express myself more freely.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you!!
Beautiful post and pictures. Just wanted to let you know I’ve been thinking about ya’ll.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that your pawpaw was so organized and that things not only went well, but were beautiful. I am listening to the song "I can only Imagine" right now - and it really serves as an excellent reminder of the life we have ahead of us!
ReplyDeleteYour wrapping paper & cookies are so beautiful - so very Jill!!
Sounds like a nice service. I've been thinking about you! I know this Christmas was probably a bit hard but I hope it was somewhat Merry! :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like all of your grandfather’s last wishes were carried out well and that the service your family had for him was a great tribute to a wonderful life.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you were able to spend some time with your family and make it a nice Christmas. I can understand it being hard this year, but the presents you wrapped look beautiful and so do the cookies. I hope that the New Year brings you nothing but peace and happiness. xoxo
It sounds like the service was very nice. He was amazingly organized! On another note, your wrapping is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteHey friend! Welcome back! The services look like they were a beautiful reflection of the good man your Grandfather seemed to be!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comment on my blog! I loved decorating for Christmas! I cannot wait for you to come see my house in person! Gotta get to planning something in 2010! And, I have never been to San Antonio.....just sayin'!!! ;-)
Sounds like you were lucky to have him in your life! Your tribute was so sweet. I will pray for your grandmother.
ReplyDeleteHi Jill, I'm sorry to hear about your pawpaw. I pray that you will be wrapped in God's love, His comfort & His peace.
ReplyDeleteI want to wish you a Happy New Year, and may all your prayers of your hearts desire be answered in the coming year of 2010.
I've been thinking of you! How are you and your family doing?
ReplyDeleteHe was very organized...I need to consider those things! Even through your grief at Christmastime, you managed to have your gifts look so festive! I hope you have a fabulous 2010!
ReplyDeleteI am sure it was a tough Christmas for your family. The funeral sounds fitting for the kind of man your grandfather was.
ReplyDeleteOn another note....your gifts are wrapped beautifully. I love pretty packages and these are stunning.