Time Well Spent

One of my primary purposes for staying three and a half weeks in Tallahassee was to spend as much time as possible with my sweet Granddaddy.  It's hard to even imagine, but there's a chance that I may never get to see him again, depending on how long it takes me to recover from surgery.  My plan is to heal up fast and get back down to Florida as soon as possible and make up for lost time with him. It was so hard for me to leave, knowing that I might very well be saying my last goodbye.  I even contacted my doctor and inquired about postponing my surgery so that I could stay there with him as long as possible.  For many, many reasons this is not a very wise idea, so I reluctantly returned to Tennessee with the knowledge that I may have just spent my last days with him.  

I could share for hours on end all of the reasons why my Granddaddy is the greatest man I've ever known and how much I admire him.  But I have a feeling I'll get the chance to do that sooner than I would like, as I have agreed to stand up and speak at his funeral.  He also asked that Matthew be one of his pall bearers.  Such a weird feeling to be talking with someone who knows they are approaching death.  But, I'm thankful that he made his wishes known and we will do everything in our power to make them a reality when the time comes.  My prayer is that the Lord will sustain him for as long as possible so that I can selfishly quench my desire to see him once more.  But, we are taking it one day at a time and so is he.  Though he often gets teary and emotional when he speaks about the future, he assures me he is not afraid of dying.  He's completely at peace with that aspect of it.  It's just difficult for him to think about all of the things he will miss out on when he's gone.  I'm not sure which is harder---Watching someone live out their last days with the knowledge of such, or having them taken from you suddenly, without the chance to say goodbye. I'm very thankful for the little bit of time we have left with him, but at the same time it's agonizing just sitting back and watching it happen.  I can't even imagine what it must feel like for him.  It's hard enough for all of us that love him so, but how must it feel to know that in a matter of months, your life here on Earth will be over and your new life in Heaven with God almighty will be beginning?  It's mind blowing to me.  The Bible says that our lives are but a vapor, here one day and gone the next.  Truer words have never been said.

Kyndall and I spent an entire week in the big city of Two Egg, Florida just enjoying the company of my Grandparents and helping them out as much as possible.  I wish there was more I could've done, but I did what I knew how to do---I cleaned, ran errands, bought groceries, did laundry, fetched snacks and drinks and medicine when it was needed, and just tried to be as much help (in small ways) as I possibly could.  My Grandparents have a great dane named Chloe who roams the yard, leaving large piles of you-know-what which obviously must to be picked up.  Guess who took on that job a few times??  Yep, that's right---I scooped poop!  ME!  Ashleigh-Anne Hughes!  I SCOOPED POOP!  So proud of myself for that one!  =)  My Grandma has a golf cart so every couple of days Kyndall and I would load up on the cart and go searching the yard for you-know-what.  The things we do for the ones we love....!

Here are some pictures from our time spent in Two Egg.........

How do you spend a Friday night in the country?......Hitting golf balls into the cotton field and then searching for them.....?!?

My cousin Carrie's new "baby", Trooper

Garrison and Kyndall had so much fun together over the course of the week!  Being only six days apart in age, they made the perfect little pair!  Just wish they were able to see each other more often......

Playing under Grandma's dining room table, just like their Mommies used to do  =)

On the day we cleaned the house, I put my little helper to work!  She actually did a GREAT job!  I'm afraid to say she's definitely inherited my OCD and perfectionist tendencies when it comes to cleaning.  She didn't miss a single speck of dust!!  And, she did it with a cheerful heart!  Love my girl so much!

Granddaddy has to spend a good bit of the day laying down due to the pain in his back and neck from the cancer in his bones.  Kyndall would often realize that he was gone from his recliner and go looking for him.  Then, I'd realize that she was gone and I'd go looking for her.  On several occasions, I walked into the bedroom to find this sweet, precious scene.......

When I told her that Granddaddy needed to rest, she would reply with "But I love him".  Ugggh...how do you respond to that?  She was very concerned about him and definitely sensed that something was not quite right.  She has such a tender heart and was truly worried about him.  I didn't know how else to explain it to her other than to just say that Granddaddy is sick.  She would often ask "Him need to go to doctor, Mommy?"  She tugged at all of our heart strings with her concern for him.

More play time with the cousins..........

Starting their own band!  

Love this one!

I'm sure there is a picture somewhere of me and my cousins sitting on those very same pillows watching movies.  It seems they've been around forever!

On the day that we ran errands for my Grandma, Kyndall picked out a few special treats for Chloe---A bone and a new chew toy.  The kids gave them to her later that night and she was ever so grateful!

The chicken chew toy that Kyndall picked out for Chloe.....she was proud!

Wherever he was, whatever he was doing, she wanted to be close by......

........Even if it just meant sitting at his feet while he read his newspapers......

On Wednesday June 12th, Granddaddy turned 82 years old!  Kyndall and I were blessed to spend this special day with him, so we did everything we could to make sure it was a fun and HAPPY day!  The first thing we did was decorate all of his "spots" around the house......

His recliner......

His place at the table.........

And his bedroom.........

He had lots of visitors on his birthday and no matter where they found him, they were reminded that it was HIS day!  =)

This is kinda random, but I took this picture of my Grandparents with my very first camera, when I was about 10 years old.  They took me and my cousin Katie (who was probably 7 at the time) to Panama City beach for a week of camping in their RV.  I still remember my Granddaddy coaxing me into the water (I've never been a fan of the ocean) and then teaching me how to ride the waves as they broke coming onto shore.  We went to Shipwreck Island, Miracle Strip (Rest in Peace--Boo hoo!) and played goofy golf.  We had the best time and I will never forget the memories that we made.  After I took this picture, I had it blown up into a poster and framed it for their Christmas gift that year.  I guess you could say my love for photography started early!  To this day, this giant picture still hangs in their bedroom and I smile every single time I see it!

Kyndall helped Granddaddy open all of his birthday cards that came in the mail......

We went swimming and then had a little "nack" in front of the giant movie screen TV......

Before I knew it, she had wandered off to find Granddaddy again.........

She was VERY excited about his birthday and kept yelling "happy dirfbay, Granddaddy!!!"  over.....and over.....and over....!

So sweet!

Later that night, some of the family came over and we had a pizza party......

Then, we had dessert, complete with party hats and party plates (Kyndall's request!!!)

Granddaddy loves fruit, so Kyndall and I made this strawberry shortcake dessert for him

This girl loves a good excuse to PAR-TAY!

Kyndall insisted that everyone wear their hats while we sang the happy birthday song

Sydney and Jeffrey are "special"

This is just a sampling of the many birthday cards Granddaddy received on his special day.  I would say that's a pretty good indication of how loved he is by friends, family and this community.  

Our time spent in Two Egg was precious and I wouldn't change it for anything.  I just wish circumstances didn't require me to leave, when my heart wanted so badly to stay.  I know that Granddaddy wouldn't want me to put off my surgery for him, but I can't help but wonder why the timing has to be so terrible for all of this to happen at once?  But then I'm reminded that the Lord's timing is perfect.  His timing is not our timing and His ways are not our ways.  For now, I will continue to pray for peace, comfort and selfishly for a little more time with my Granddaddy.  I can't tell you how many prayers this man has sent up on my behalf over the years and now I plan to do the same for him.  I think that the hope of seeing him again following my surgery will be just the encouragement that I need to get rested, recovered and back on my feet, headed to Florida ASAP!  Until then, I would appreciate your prayers for him as well.  Many of you know him and love him as much as I do.