Grandpa Wilber's Funeral....

On November my Grandpa Wilber passed away....We had skyped with him earlier that day and it was so good to see him and say our final goodbye's. I am so thankful I was able to take Tivoli and fly out to Reno and see him in February of this year.....that made it so all my kids have a picture with their Grandpa. 

We decided to leave the kids and drive to Reno in a big carpool. Aaron and I drove with Russ and Timmy in a loner truck that Russ had. It was a pretty pleasant drive. We arrived there on the Sunday before the funeral. We were to sing 2 songs with my family. We sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" and "Because I Have Been Given Much". My Grandpa was such a kind, tenderhearted man. I didn't know him really well but I did get to meet him a couple times in my adult years and associate with him. While we were practicing the song on Sunday night I was having a hard time controlling my emotions. I didn't know grandpa super well but I did know he had a sad life. Grandma Key had him sign away his rights of his children so Frank could adopt them. I don't know the whole story and I probably should get it but I'm just so sad he didn't have a good life. That his kids weren't part of that. 

I do know that he would drive by my dad's house when my dad was young and just sit in his car and watch my dad and his siblings play outside. My grandma would not let him see his own children:(  Grandpa had his sister Mary that took good care of him so he wasn't completely alone, but there isn't much that can replace your children. He never remarried. So yes, Sunday night was hard. Aaron just held me while I cried. I didn't think it would be a big deal if he came or not. I didn't want to put pressure on him. I was so thankful he did come and that he held me and just let me cry and tell him how sad it was and how sad I was. 

Monday morning we woke up and headed over to where the graveside services were being held. It was good. Way better than Frank's funeral! It was pretty personal and there were a few people there that really loved him!

 It was pretty chilly but they had these heater things there that Aaron and Jason were able to fire up....

 Yep, it's putting off heat:)

Thanks for making it warm, Baby!

My dad was one of the pall bearers. He was the only one of his siblings that showed up for grandpa's funeral.

Grandpa was in the Army so there were lots of officers there.

It was a very cool thing to listen to them shoot their guns. Grandpa is buried in the Veteran's Cemetery just outside Reno Nevada.

My dad did a really good job at dedicating his dad's grave, but it was quite possibly the saddest thing EVER!!

It probably goes hand in hand with a comment Aaron made later that night. Jason was giving my dad a hard time-like he always does-when Aaron said, "Give the guy a break, he just buried his dad". So so sad:(

That night we went bowling and had a good time doing that!

Just being photo bombed by Connor!

My Baby and I.....
Once again, I was really thankful for him and the support he gave to me.

I love this man!