Grandpa Jim

Live well, Love much, Laugh often. I love this little phrase. I have it on my wrist on a bracelet, and I look at it everyday as my reminder that life is short, so I must make the most of my time here on this earth because I just never know when my time is up. I really hope to live a long and happy life, but if for some reason my time is up before I have done all that I wanted or said all that I wanted or met all those that I wanted, I hope all the people I love know that I love them. There's this new country song out (see, I love country music :)!) and the chorus goes like this:

"Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse 'I love you'
Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense
Never let your prayin knees get lazy
And love like crazy"

 I love this. It's so simple. So great. I have been so blessed with great people and examples in my life that I love to follow and become like. One particular person is someone who I have always looked up to, and still do to this day. He is the greatest man I have ever known, and taught me so much. I admire him, and he is my inspiration to be better. His name:  

James Glen Thompson.

This man here is my Grandpa. He is the greatest. I miss him so much. He passed away when I was 14, and I can remember the day like it was yesterday. It was a Tuesday. September 14th, 2004 to be exact. I was walking down the hallway after 1st hour gym class just past my volleyball coach's classroom, when I heard over the intercom "Vanessa Storey, please come to the office." My heart dropped. I knew it was something about Grandpa. Grandpa's health had been going downhill for the past couple weeks, so as I walked to the office, I knew it was something about him. I walked into the office, and Sharon told me I was supposed to call my mom at my Grandma's house. I picked up the phone and dialed the number. Mom answered. I could tell she was crying. She told me it was time and that I needed to say goodbye to Grandpa now. I immediately burst into tears and couldn't control myself. I can clearly remember Grandpa's voice, though hard for him to speak, on the other line saying, "Nessy, my sweet Nessy, I love you." I barely managed to squeak out "I love you, too, Grandpa," and then Mom took the phone again and said that she loved me too and that she would try to get me out to Grandpa's house as soon as possible. I was heartbroken. I walked out of the office, and luckily a friend of mine saw me and ran over to me, seeing I was crying and caught me as I nearly collapsed in the middle of the hallway. I cried on her shoulder, and tried to find my sister. Ashley and I drove out to Grandpa and Grandma's, and I can remember the song that was playing on Ashley's cd the day we did. It made me cry even more. It was called "When the Last Teardrop Falls" and the words hit me like a ton of bricks.

It's so hard to lose the one you love
To finally have to say goodbye
You try to be strong but the pain keeps holdin' on
And all that you can do is cry...
When the last tear drop falls
I'll still be holdin' on to all of our memories
And all of what used to be
When the last tear drop falls
I will stand tall
And know that you're here with me in my heart
When the last tear drop falls

Ashley and I both looked at each other while this song was playing, and couldn't help but cry even harder. The drive to Grandpa's never seemed as long as it did that day. We got to Grandpa and Grandma's and mom told us we could each have one-on-one time with Grandpa, as he was still conscious and breathing. So, we each took our turn and went into the bedroom, and said our final goodbye. I remember holding Grandpa's hand and telling him how much I love him, and thanking him for always being there for me. I even thanked him for picking on me pretty much all of my life, which caused his eyes to pop open and he said, "I never thought I'd hear that!" Of course, everyone laughed, and I had to chuckle too. It was pretty funny. But, I was still so sad that he was leaving us. Grandpa ended up getting a lot of energy that night, and I remember we were all in his bedroom, when he said, "I don't mean to offend anyone, but I'd like to have a party tonight." So, we did. We got some pop, and we chatted with Grandpa one last time. It was the best way, in my opinion, to say goodbye. Grandpa passed away two days later. I remember this day as well. It was Thursday, September 16th. It was a little after lunch. Ashley and I got called down to the office, and this time Dad was outside the doors. We knew it was for real this time. Dad hugged me tight and told me the news. We cried, and headed out to Grandma's house again. By that time, almost the whole family was there as we waited for the funeral home workers to come and take Grandpa. Everyone was tired, and emotionally drained. It had been a very difficult couple of weeks. Ashley, my cousin Danielle, and I decided to go pick up the younger kids after school, and let my aunts stay at the house with Grandma. We picked up the kids, but didn't want to tell them what had happened. We thought it was best for their mom to tell them. Robert was the oldest of the younger kids, and he knew by the look in our eyes that Grandpa had passed away. When we got back to the house, Auntie Karin took her kids and told them, and Auntie Jami did the same with her kids. We all started to cry again, and that was when little Alexys Marie came into the room, and said, "Why is everyone crying?
Grandpa is in heaven now."
She was about 4 or 5 years old. She was right. We all knew he was in a much better place, but we just missed him so much.

Grandpa was the strongest man I have ever known. He battled cancer after cancer for 15 years, and did all he could with his time on this earth. Grandpa's health started going downhill when I was 13. It was hard seeing him become weaker physically, but he still maintained his spiritual strength. My Grandpa has been the greatest example to me. He raised my mom in the gospel, and helped my mom bring my dad into the gospel as well. What an amazing man! He is definitely the "Rock" of our family, and I look up to him in so many ways. I have so many fond memories with my Grandpa. He did pick on me quite a bit growing up, because I was the only blonde-haired one in the family, but looking back, it was pretty funny. I remember at the time, I always would get so mad, and then Grandpa would pick me up in his arms or give me a big hug, and say something like, "I love you, my Nessy! You're my only blondie." He was such a fun man. I remember when we would beg him to take out his fake teeth even though we knew full well it scared the crap out of us. But he would do it, and then turn off all the lights and walk around the house with his back hunched and we'd run like crazy and go find Grandma. We were silly kids, but we sure loved our Grandpa. I remember going fishing with him during the summers. I can see him reeling up a fish now, which his one leg up on the side of the boat wearing his full body "Dickies" suit.  He lived in those things. I found this picture when I was home, and I absolutely love it. Grandpa was all for being outside, and this picture is just too great.

I remember when he did this! We were at Caliper Lake, Ontario, Canada. A great provincial park we used to go to every summer when I was growing up. I love this picture because in the background you can see the little red 50. We have a funny video of my Grandpa riding that thing around the campground. He's just so cute and funny! I love this man. A lot.
I was also fortunate enough to have Grandpa give me my patriarchal blessing as he was the Patriarch for our stake. I got my blessing about a year before he passed away, and while I can't say I remember everything from that particular day, I can definitely hear my Grandpa's voice every time I read it. It's very comforting and I know that he's watching over me.

To make a long post a bit longer, I just want to say that I am so fortunate to have known James Glen Thompson, and to call him Grandpa. He's the best and I love him so much and miss him every day. I can't wait until that day when I'll get to give him a big hug and tell him how much I love him face to face. He taught me so much, and I hope that I can pass on what he taught me to my children and my grandchildren one day.
Grandpa's favorite scripture has now become one of my favorite scriptures, and it says:
"I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."
-Philippians 4:13-
This is how my Grandpa lived. He lived the Gospel and loved the Lord and his Savior, Jesus Christ. Grandpa Jim is and will always be my hero and my inspiration.

Live well, love much, and laugh often. You never know when your time is up, so treat every day as it is your last.