Granddaddy

Losing Granddaddy was really hard on our family.  We know that he is no longer suffering and is definitely in a better place but we still just miss him.

One of the hardest things for me and Rob is that we want our kids to remember how special he was and how much he adored all of his great grandchildren. So this blog is written to you.  My precious little ones...
Granddaddy was not an old man that you were forced to hang out with at holidays.  He was a huge part of your everyday activities. He taught you so much about the importance of family, giving your best, honesty, and respect. He was your teacher, your cheerleader, your buddy, your favorite neighbor, and your biggest fan. I think the best way to keep his memory alive is to continue to hold tight to the memories made with him.  Here are a few.... 

Maddie

Granddaddy liked to call you Maddie Bug and you loved that nickname.

You liked to sit and watch TV with him.  He would change the channel from the news, to sit and watch cartoons on your behalf.

You were always running next door to show him a project you made in school or reciting him a poem or scripture you had memorized.  He thought you were brilliant and always complimented you on your maturity and knowledge.

He loved your dimples.

He thought you were beautiful and that you looked like a true Billingsley.

You like to share saltine crackers with him out of the big glass jar.

He was there when you were born in The Woodlands. He was at all seven of your birthday parties.  He came to Montgomery to visit you several times and was there for your baby dedication. 

As soon as we found out that Granddaddy was gone.  You went to your room to retrieve your prayer journal. This is what you wrote." Dear God, I know Granddaddy is having a blast. I miss him already. Tell Him that I love him. Tell him that I love his laugh. I love it when he called me Maddie Bug, Tell him that Kinley is really sad and misses him a lot. I miss him a lot. I love him. I love you God. Amen" When I pulled out your journal to copy this, I could not help but look back at your previous entries. For the past two months, there were several entries praying for Granddaddy and Mimi. You did this all on your own.  As we are working on your flower project for spring you have decided  that Granddaddy was like a seed that couldn't wait to get out of his shell. He is blooming in heaven.  I think Granddaddy was right about your wisdom and insight.

Kinley

He loved your bear hugs.  Every time you went over to see him, you made sure to give him one.

He loved your spunk and spirit and was always talking about your great sense of humor.

He would always say...that Kinley when talking about you, even the way he said your name, you could hear the love in his voice.

He thought you were gorgeous and was always talking about the way you would steal the hearts of all the boys in town.

He loved your thoughtfulness and said you had a huge heart like your Granna. 

You liked to take care of Granddaddy and would always use his back scratcher to reach the itchy pots that he couldn't reach.

He gave you a hard time for always being barefoot and changing clothes a thousand times a day.

He liked the way you liked to dress up.  Grandaddy liked to dress up too.

He was also there when you were born.  He was there for your first four birthday parties and was right next door, too ill to visit for your fifth birthday.  He was proud to be at your baby dedication at Highpoint, the church he built. 

You probably had the hardest time with his death.  You keep saying he was the best Granddaddy in the world. You have decided that God must love Granddaddy a bunch, to take him him to heaven on God's favorite day of the week, Sunday.

Caden James

You were named after this great man.  He thought you were so special.  He was thrilled to finally have a boy to carry on the great name Billingsley.

He loved holding you on his lap.
He liked to share his peanuts with you.
You loved going over to share a glass of juice with him each day.
You both liked to eat popcorn.
You liked to sneak over to his house after the girls were in bed to have a little "TV time" with Granddaddy.
He loved to watch you "waller" on the floor in the transformer pillowcase each day.
He anticipated your visits and liked to see which costume you would wear each day.
He always laughed about the fact that you ran around half-dressed or naked everywhere.
Your bedroom is decorated with pictures of him and his football relics.
He once told me that you were an "unexpected gift to the whole family".
You both shared a love for building and that thrilled him to no end.
He was there at your birth, your baby dedication and your first two birthday parties.
On the day he died, we were sitting on the couch and you looked over and said out of the blue, "Granddaddy is with God" and then you added " and "he is happy." An hour later, we found out that you were right and that you said that to me right at the time he went to be with Jesus. You  mention on occasion that Granddaddy is with God and that you want to be with God too.

A Happy family is but an earlier heaven.~ Chinese Proverb

Thank you Granddaddy for giving us just a taste of what you are enjoying now.
We miss you dearly.