Life Lessons My Grandpa Taught Me

For the last week my family and I have watched as my grandpa has been losing the fight of his life. We all knew it was coming (he's had a lot of health problems for some time) but that doesn't make it so we're prepared. Today we were told he has 24-48 hours and 48 hours is generous. We've been spending time comforting one another, remembering Grandpa for the wonderful man that he was, and finishing up his funeral arrangements that we started earlier this week.

As part of his memory, I wanted to share with you the lessons I learned from my grandpa. First of all, never say no to dessert! He had the biggest sweet tooth. He always had cookies, candy, ice cream, and/or cake around the house. If you wanted to be on his good side, just bring him a milk shake and you were golden. He would even sleep with a piece of hard candy in his mouth each night. Scary, I know.

Secondly, he was a hard worker and took great pride in everything he did. He worked as a "Happy Hooker" at Geneva Steel. This is where they would hook huge slabs of steel onto cranes. He loved his job and often shared stories of his 30+ years there.

He also loved working in his wood shop. He spent countless hours out there making beautiful shelves, baskets, furniture, and rocking chairs. He loved sharing that passion with family and friends. He gave away most of what he made as gifts to those he loved. He once helped a young man in his ward make music stands as part of an Eagle Scout project. He taught my mom and my uncle how to use the different tools. I think some of his favorite memories were made out there.

My grandpa knew how to keep busy. All my life I have heard everyone compare him to his father. Martin Sheriff could make something out of nothing (he made their family home out of rail road ties). The apple certainly did not fall far from the tree. He had to keep busy thinking of projects for himself to do. Making things work better, move faster, or just changing it for the sake of changing it. He could not just sit still.

My grandpa taught me how to fight. He's had Tremors for 15+ years and in more recent years got Alzheimer's. Every single day was a fight for him and every single day he stepped up to the plate. He was in it to win it! That's how he attacked everything in life. Full force!

He was a great example of loving thy neighbor. A neighbor to him was anyone he came into contact with. He would help anyone with pretty much anything. As family and friends have come to be with my family they have shared stories of what my grandpa has done to help them. It's amazing to hear how many people love my grandpa and have been blessed by having him in their lives.

He loved going to visit the neighbors. He loved hearing their stories, seeing what they are up to, trying to help, or just shooting the breeze. They brought such joy to his life.

The most important thing I learned from my grandpa is that families are forever. When my uncle was bed ridden, he shared a bed with him and moved him through out the night. He would lift him from wheel chair, to bed, to a seat. He, along side with my grandma, made sure he wasn't held back by his disabilities (my uncle was handicapped).

Some of my most treasured memories of my grandpa are when one of us was hurt. Especially my grandma. He loved her so much that he would sit and hold her hand whenever she fell. He would cry whenever she has had to go to the hospital for an injury. If it were her in the bed instead of him right now, we'd have to pry him away in order to tend to her. That's just the type of man that he is. He loved to take care of his girls (my grandma, my mom, me, and my 2 sisters).

It's been a great pleasure to be able to see my grandpa each week, to tease him like he always teased me growing up. It's going to be heartbreaking when I can't do it anymore. But he's needed more else where. So Grandpa, go forth and rock on!!