End of an era. This one is for you Grandpa Roy.

In our life, their are things that we often don't think about. Their are also many things we take for granted. Then, when it feels like life throws you into a brick wall, you find yourself constantly keeping yourself busy to not come to that reality. Sadly, I have fallen into this category and it isn't for a bad reason. It honestly is a good thing. Today for my grandpa Roy Otto Marlia, it is the end of an era. He is now Home with Our Heavenly Father and also be reunited with his lovely wife Betty Ann, who past away almost 9 years ago.

Over the past year my grandpa hasn't been doing so well. That comes with old age. He just turned 90 back in May and ever since then has just been on the decline. A couple weeks ago, it was determined that he had cancer. A reality most of us didn't want to face. Of all of the cancer, metastasis was determined. Not a cancer I am too familiar with, I just know that it spreads from organ to organ like it has in Roy.

It was almost 9 years when I was heading into my sophomore year of high school that my grandma Betty Ann got diagnosed with liver cancer. I still remember the family getting that phone bright and early in the morning. Visiting her at the hospital everything was fine. Little did we know that 10 days later she would pass on to be with our Lord. Since that time I haven't had anything too dramatic in my life happen. It broke my heart to see my grandma suffer but then and even today, it gives me great joy to know that she is in heaven.

One of my biggest regrets and one that I have learned to deal with is how I said goodbye to my grandma Betty Ann when she did pass away. It never really was a goodbye. Before passing she had a stroke that paralyzed half her body for the most part. Me being younger, it hurt me to even look at her because I could see she was in pain. My fondest memory of her during those 10 days has to go back to when she first went to the hospital, when she wasn't in pain.

Now 9 year later nearly, Roy is finally Home. Currently I reside in Portland and it has been my prayer to have gotten down to see him before he passes. That was the plan this weekend at least. Given my father's wishes, he has told me to not come down. Still having mixed emotions on that decision  Last week I at least got to FaceTime him. He definitely was weak but swears he wasn't in any pain. Much changed since then. Him being so weak, he wasn't able to say much, but sometimes a smile says it all. I think over the last 9 years since having to deal with a serious death, I have at least grown in that area. It may have been hard to see, but that smile is something that will stay with me forever. Also along with technology, I have a good video of him when he was healthy. Something I will cherish for a while.

Not many people know this about me, but if my grandma Betty Ann never passed away like she did, my faith in Christ would almost be none existent. I "believed" in God never had a "relationship". When she passed away, on her last days she couldn't even talk. My grandpa Roy was by her side when she did go. Moments before passing she rose up out of bed (something she shouldn't be able to do), and was wide awake. According to my grandpa, and I still get chills to this day, 2 angels and Jesus came down to get her and take her Home. This vision really got me to check myself and my life and ever since then life couldn't be better! I thank God for that revelation through Betty Ann that played a big part in saving my soul.

I am also very blessed to have grown up only 3 houses down from my grandparents. Not many kids have that privilege, but I did. Though for 6 months out of the year they would head down to Baja and do missionary work, the other 6 months were spent down the road from us. So many good memories for me as a kid. Not many people are that lucky. So I am thankful for that. I think that is what makes this so hard. Really mixed with emotions like a lot of people in my family are. We have prepared for this day it seems like.

I am just so thankful to have had grandparents who played such a great role in raising my dad. He surely learned from some of the best in the business. My dad has always put others first being a school teacher, now retired. Roy and Betty Ann always did the same. Heck, they even let their children with their families live in the house they built, while they lived in a motorhome outside the house. Such a crazy story but the humility my grandparents had makes me proud to be their grandson.

Now Roy is with Jesus along with Betty Ann. To make it even crazier, it would be Betty Ann's birthday. I am positive she what waiting for this day to come and take him Home. He will no longer be in pain, and he will be in a much better place for sure. He can finally use that coffin he hand built to save money that has been collecting dust in my parents attic. He always joked with my mom asking if she was keeping it dusted off. Well, it is dusted off now. I couldn't be more jealous of my grandpa, but know heaven will be amazing! Just how I picture it I hope.

My grandpa will never see this post. Some of you may read this, some of you will not. Everyone deals with death differently. I rarely blog. This is just one way of me honoring my grandpa Roy. A man with integrity, honor, great character, humility and much much more. But most importantly, he loved Jesus. Now he can be with Him finally along with Betty Ann, my lovely grandma. Love you grandpa Roy, you will always be missed. Thanks everyone for reading. God bless.