It's kinda like a sour patch kid

For some reason i don't do well with sour things. The only thing that keeps me going through the sour is the wonderful goodness hiding behind the mask of illness... WHEW! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Sour Patch kids are one of those sour then sweet candy. Or i guess if you're old enough WAR HEADS!!!! those are more intense than sour patch kids. Well, Reagan has a high tolerance for sour (obviously, she's married to me you may say... hahah. shut it.) and some of my sunday schoolers did as well. I made them take 5 war heads and put 1 to each side of their mouth, 1 in the middle, and 2 under their tongue. for me this was very fun and entertaining, and they were kids and loved it too. I think what kept them going was either 1. competition and or 2. they knew the goodness underneath the sour illness. for my purposes i say it was they knew of the goodness...

A while back, I bought my Grandpa Grossen a web cam so that we could talk to him and see his face every once and again. He was pretty sick most of the time but luckily 2 weeks ago we were able to have a little video chat with him. He has been battling cancer for the second time, and was told he wouldn't make it much longer. Well there we were talkin to him long after doctors said he would make it! It was hard to understand him but in talking he kept his sense of humor.

Friday I got a text from Jess that told me grandpa had died; and this is my tribute to him. Some memories come to me as i sit here. I remember going to Lagoon and telling my mom that Grandma and Grandpa need tans. I remember the drawers of bountious sweet sweet goodness. In those kitchen drawers, Grandpa stored more candy than a 7-11. I remember his stories of his army days, mission days and even his stories about snicklefritzgleek up at the cabin. I remember throwing rocks at the outhouse when Grandpa was in there....most of that was initiated by the uncles. I remember going through all of Grandpa's stuff. I still have a ton of basketball, baseball and football cards from him. He fueled my desire to collect things, which is one of my Grandpa-isms. I remember the smell of the Orem house backyard. I remember always watching both Grandma and Grandpa Grossen stand outside their house and wave to us as we pulled away early in the morning to get back to Colorado. Regardless of the time, they were there. I remember in 1994 when Grandma passed away after a ladder accident. I remember Grandpa waving goodbye to us alone outside of his house early in the morning. I remember all the awesome deals we got with grandpa, and how much fun it was to go out to eat with him. I remember going to Arby's. I remember telling Grandpa the coupons we had for Arby's were expired...and I also remember him tearing the coupons in such a way that the cashier couldn't decipher the TRUE expiration date and was then obligated to give us a 'good deal'. I remember his excitement for me to go on a mission and when he shared with me all the details about his mission. I remember his mission picture, and the fact that it looked like my cousin Dan, a stunningly handsome lad. I remember that Grandpa loved secrets, and despite what you may think, he kept some of my secrets I told him. I remember that Brooke and I never liked Grandpa's flings, especially Venice the Menace; but we have always like Linda. She's a fireball -- and you have to be if you're married to Grandpa. I love her for being so good to me, our family and my grandpa...Grandpa wasn't always easy to take care of :) I remember Grandpa wanting to try on my hat that I had gotten on my way home from Seattle... My favorite part of this picture is the fact that he threw down the peace sign. Gangster.

I cant tell you how many times Grandpa told me that I was so lucky to have such a wonderful girl to marry; a Princess, a Queen, a Gorgeous young lady to have forever. No joke, every time Reagan and I visited him he would grab me and go on and on about how proud and happy he was. I am so glad that he was able to be there in the temple with me and Reagan when we were married for not only time, but for all eternity. That binding power is something you will find NOWHERE else but the LDS temples, and I'm glad that Grandpa is comfortable and reunited with Grandma.

Friday morning after Grandpa had passed away Reagan walked upstairs to check on Preston because he hadn't woken up for his 8 o'clock bottle. When she peeked her head in the room she saw and heard that Preston was babbling and smiling in his sleep. Because Grandpa wasn't able to be here last weekend for Preston's baby blessing, he took some time to be with the boy he had only seen on the web-cam.

Preston's blessing weekend was so great for both Reagan and me. I think our families would hang out forever - daily and nightly - if we all lived in the same area. I loved havin Papa there to hold it down for the Grandpa's. Granny is taught us all how to make Preston speak. The dad's rekindled their baby handling skills and bonded nicely, while the aunts kept the buffer between the two mothers who would have held that baby the whole weekend if we let them. :) We are grateful for supportive and loving families and hope they want to come visit humidity central again in the future.

And so it comes around and you see that life can kinda be like a sour patch kid. There's some things in life that aren't enjoyable, like letting a loved one go; but there is always the inner goodness to have and enjoy.