CHURCH WITH GRANDADDY

As a child, Sunday's entailed going to church and then to Magranny and Grandaddy's to eat Sunday lunch. I was a picky child. Magranny spoiled me. Guess what she made for me every Sunday? Boiled chicken and peas of some sort. I love both, even to this day. I would gladly give the chocolate pudding she made for each of us grand kids aside for another helping of her peas.

After lunch, the cousins would play in the yard, while the men would retire to the den and the ladies would wear aprons and clean the kitchen. My grandmother made the dresses Kelli and I wore to church. She would find a pattern, measure us, and we'd have new dresses in no time. As a teenager, she patiently tried to teach me to sew a button. I still can't.

In church, I remember proudly watching my grandparents sing in the choir. I thought that was something else. As a young adult, they continued that tradition and stayed diligently devoted to their church. Brother Bobby, who was the preacher at the time, said he thought of Grandaddy as his brother. Those words were spoken at Magranny's funeral.

Grandaddy is humble. He wont be thrilled to see that I've written a blog about him, but he is a hero of mine. He always has been and always will be. If I try to think of how I should live my life, his example always, always comes to mind.

I decided to surprise him at church this past Sunday. As I waited for him to get out of Sunday School, I started asking around about where he sat. I went to familiar faces and asked, "Where is Grandaddy? Where does he sit?" Everyone knew and EVERYONE had something magnificent to say about him. I met new people and heard more of the same. I can't be any prouder of a grand-daughter than I am. I love telling people that he's my grandfather and I love hearing how he has touched so many lives.

During church, I kept thinking about how he would like to have Magranny sitting to his left. I miss her too and I wish she was here. That's selfish, because I know she is running the streets of gold right now. Her service to those who needed it couldn't be fully explained. She was simply amazing.

After church, we had a meal at Wendy's. Wendy's was a favorite hangout for my grandparents. I'm just not sure I could have been any happier sitting across from him for that meal. I know that Magranny was smiling down on us.