For the longest time I have been trying to gather my
thoughts on Grandpa. I think it's been really hard for me
to talk about his death even blog about how special my
grandpa was and how he impacted my life from day one.
I guess I will start tonight, seeing that I have a deadline.
My Grandpa was a great example to me in my life. Seeing
that I always got sick and always needed some kind of help.
There were no answers from doctors. With a single faith of
a grand daughter to her faithful grandpa nothing was impossible.
Every time I turned around I would be sick and in bed. I didn't
doubt that God could heal me. I never doubted that Grandpa
would always make me better with a single blessing. I felt the
heavens open more then once with a single blessing from Grandpa.
I remember one night I was so so so stuck with an illness.
My mother would ask me all the time. Would you like a blessing
from your father? As a little child I knew Dad could heal me,
(Nothing against my father. Just durning certain times. I wanted
Grandpa to give me the blessings). I replied
"I want Grandpa to do it, I want a blessing from Grandpa".
Mom as she looked at her child, I know she hated to see her
daughter in so much pain, she knew that a blessing would help.
I still wanted to wait. I didn't mind, even though Grandpa wouldn't
be in town for some Time. I still remembered, Grandpa Blessing.
Time flew by and I knew that I could not be mad at God at all.
For he healed me many many times.Grandpa taught me a few
things as I was growing up, As in his blessings he would always say..
." Daisia You're Heavenly Fathers Loves you. You are truly a special
daughter of God". <>
I looked up to My Grandpa. I looked up to him like a teacher.
Some one to be proud of and someone to look up too. Time
and time again. Grandpa was like a prophet to me. He never
spoke harsh words, he never cussed, he always loved
unconditionally, Grandpa Knew the promises that God has given us,
if we do the things that he asked. I have never seen a man obey
his father in heaven as my Grandfather did. He never preached.
He taught with love and understanding. No matter who you were or
what you did in your life Grandpa didn't look at you any other way.
He loves you just the way you are. Even though he was sad
when someone that he loved would go a stray. Yet He loved
unconditionally. I tried every day to be just like that.
I remember a time when I was raped and I started to be very
very scared of guys. I shuttered every time a guy would touch
me. Even a best friend as we were playing soccer in the field,
rubbed against me and I froze. No reason really! I didn'
t understand it, I didn't understand why I had to go through
this. I hid my feelings very well during that time. I didn't like
to talk about what happened. Another incident happened
to me with someone that I thought couldn't touch me. Where
I felt like I hated all guys. I hated the fact that I couldn't even
trust my own father, someone that used to hold his priesthood
very strong, that taught me to love God. He was an inspiration
to me, then turned against God at full force after the divorce.
I didn't understand. How you could have so much faith and
then turn your back to God. I knew he lived and yet afte
r the incidents with guy after guy. To the point where I trusted
no one who was a guy. I felt like something was wrong with
the world. I was scared and I didn't know what to do. I never turned
my back on God and blamed him for those things. I just was
terrified of guys. Then I realized something as I was in my
Grandparents home. As my grandpa made a speech around
Thanksgiving. As I heard him Speak there was nothing but a
single voice that said "This is the true church. Men are not all
the same. There are great faithful guys out there. You are just
looking in all the wrong places. Stop! Don't look for the right man.
Wait and be at peace Daisia. God loves you, and wants the best."
Grandpa opened my eye's more times then you can imagine.
He helped me from just being a wonderful father and husband and
even the best grandpa I could ever ask for. I fought my way to
trust guys. If my grandpa wasn't an example I would probably be
scared of guys still. I would not be where I stand today. I wouldn't
be getting married in the temple if it wasn't for his words.
I strongly feel like we all need something or someone to be standing
firm with the truth. There are some days where I wish that I would've
known him more. Yet the lessons that He taught as he lived
day to day Is so much better then I could ever ask for.
I remember going on walks with Grandpa. Or even a recent
time when we went on a walk. We went to a place where they
had treadmills at the assisted living home. He told me that they
told him it was ok for him to come over and use them to take
his walks on bad days. We went there were two treadmills
side by side. I started to run and run and run. As he walked.
I remember he was telling me that I needed to keep that up
and that it was good for my heart. He taught me about keeping
my body active and to never give up. Grandpa was a fighter.
He never gave up. He never ever doubted God, he Fought
through his cancer and was faithful to the end. No matter
what the challenge was. He took it straight forward all the
way to the end. I look up to him for that. I know my life hasn't
been perfect. I can't say that It was easy. Yet It was worth it
. I see it as, it either makes you or it breaks you. I have broke
a few times and said "I give up for now. I will pick up later". If It
was grandpa who went though that. I'm sure he
would try harder. Which he always did.
Ok I need to stop crying for a second. I want to share
something fun that I remember grandpa saying as I was just
about 12 years of age. He was even teaching the young
without preaching to them. A few of my sisters and I were
watching this silly movie on TV "ferris bueller's day off", at
the beginning of the movie as the boy woke up ran and quickly
got ready, then ran out the door. Grandpa made a comment
and said "He forgot to say his prayers". All of us girls started
to laugh. The look on his face was his fake sad smile. We still
continued and laughed. I replied and said "Grandpa, It's just
a movie". He said again with his frowny face still attached.
"He forgot to say his prayers". I
giggled for a second and then
thought for the rest of the movie
thinking, He did forget to say
his prays. Geez I forget to say my prayers. It has stuck with
me ever since. I wake up and then think of grandpa's fake
frowny face and with a sad voice saying "He forgot to say
his prayers." The last thing that I want is for grandpa to say
that to me. "You forgot to say your
morning prayers". I remembered!
Such a great way to never miss an opportunity to share
your testimony and never too late or too early to teach.
Grandpa taught me something to look for in a guy. One day
as we were walking down the streets of California at a street
fair. I believe it was in 2006, right after a play that my aunt
Rose was in. She played in a musical called "Show Boat".
As we were walking to our car late in the Evening. He Kept
switching sides every time we would cross the street. He was
always on the out side. I finally was wondering what in the
world he was doing. He soon replied that a gentleman should
always be on the outside of a lady. If a car was to come at us.
He said that he would take the first hit or any hit coming at us.
Another reason was because if the girl is on the outside it is
saying that he doesn't care about her, or that she is up for sale.
I didn't quite understand this. Yet the more I thought about it,
it made me wonder and think. Who am I looking for in a guy.
I started to look for guys that respected a lady and that would
protect her in any stage. I know the more I tell this to a guy,
the more I knew if he cared about me and took my grandpa's
advice. FYI girls. Look for a man that take's grandpa's advice any
day of the week. He knows what he is talking about. (That same
day is with Grandpa and I standing by his favorite car at the
street fair. He was standing in Awe... When he saw this car.
I soon dragged him over and we had this picture taken together.
Standing by this car. Wish we could have taken it for a spin. I'm sure he
The last picture was with Grandpa and I as we are dancing
at Aubrey's wedding. Grandpa loved to dance. Although the
older he got the more he got winded after one dance. I loved
the way he danced. He was dancing to a different rhythm
then what I'm used to. From school, ballroom, swing, etc.
I don't even think he really followed the beat to the music.
I loved Loved dancing with grandpa. I remember at Brant's Wedding.
We danced and danced and danced. I was trying to learn
his steps. If there was something that I could Learn from him.
Don't focus on how the dance goes. More like trust and be
lead. You also have to have
faith in your partner. Go with
the flow of life. Don't think about too much on your next step,
because it might not be what you planned out. If you think there
is going to be a spin, you could be very wrong. Have faith in
your partner (Our Heavenly father). Don't think too hard about
what the next move is going to be, because you never know
what it is going to be. Trust in him and he will lead the way.
Stay focused or you will get stepped on or even lead off the path
and the rhythm of your partner. It's ok, he will wait for you to
get your head back on straight, but jump back in the game,
never ever give up. Always Keep moving. Don't listen to the
distractions, even the music playing, or it will throw you
off your beat and even your path that you're on. But remember,
Remember to have fun in this life. It's short and can be gone
before you know it. Remember the teachings Remember who
love's you. I will always remember my Grandpa.
He was surely the most perfect man in my eyes.
I will always love you! I will always keep you in my heart
and live by your teachings day by day. I love you!
God be with you, till we meet again.
Love always, Your Grand Daughter Daisia
