The end of April

This past week I made the terrible trip across the globe to see my grandparents. I haven't seen them in a while and it seemed like the time to visit again. I got in on Wednesday night after travelling all day and all night. Got to spend a lot of time with them over the weekend. I left Sunday morning to travel back. It was a hard visit. Both good and bad. But I am glad I did it. Sometimes you just gotta do these things.

I did get to see some friends also.... it makes me want to move back to Canada when I see family and friends that I haven't seen in a long time. Especially when I find new friends, that I never realized I had, in cousins I've had forever. (Brandon!)

I wrote a letter for my Grampa. I put it on this blog.... Not because I want everyone to have an opinion about it, but because it is the way I feel and that is what I put on here. If you don't want to read it, please don't. If you do, than that's fine too. Gramma, I hope you will read it to him for me. =)

So now I am back in Korealand for another four months. It sounds short, but feels like it will never end. Christina is leaving tomorrow, which is a marking point I have been counting down to. My calendar is sitting here, within easy reach so I can mark off each day as it finishes. This has been an experience, I am glad I did it, but I will be glad when it's over too.

The weather has gotten lovely over here, all warm and colorful. The trees are all green and the flowers are popping up everywhere. I am glad. Winter was terrible.

And that is all I have to say tonight.

~Michelle

Dear Grampa,

I can't begin to tell you how much I love you. When I think back on my childhood you are always part of the memories that make me smile. From the time I was very little I know I always looked up to you with a mixture of fear and admiration. You could do anything. Build anything, tear it down, burn it all up, paint it, or kill it. And then on the other hand, you could be kind, and gentle, loving and generous, funny, or talented.

So many things I will never forget. You taught me how to ride the lawnmower, only in 2nd gear, of course. You paid me to collect potato bugs in the garden, you taught me golf. I was never allowed to help paint the house, even though it was only one colour. I remember you burning everything. A bees nest (they weren't too happy) the dog house, the yard, the forest, the trash. I remember The Trading Bag. The tricky way you used to get us to give you the coolest stuff and then we would end up with a bar of soap, or a button. You playing the keyboard, singing. Laughing, sleeping with your mouth wide open (catching flies). Remodeling our house for us, and killing snakes.

You never seemed to age, defied death by beating all the odds. Heart transplant, illness, kidney failure, skin cancer. It never seemed to slow you down or make you give up. And I think that is the thing I admire the most. The thing I have learned from you and the thing I will never let go of.

Some people say that you and I are alike. That you are where I get my spunk. I take it as a compliment. To be compared to a man as great as you. I hope I can always measure up.

I want to tell you that you did good, you are one of the very best people I know. I can't wait to be with you in heaven where there will never be any need to slow down, or be careful. Where you can live out to your true potential. And I am confident of that above all else. That I will see you there, if not again here. Because not only are you a good man, you are a Godly man. I have always known this to be true. And even now, in the face of so many hardships, I can tell that God is a faithful companion. You inspire me to be great, to live better and to hang onto Jesus. You inspire me to stick out terrible situations and hang on for something better. You mean so much to me and I wanted to let you know.

You have done so much, touched so many lives. Not only of your grandchildren, but of everyone around you. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate it. And how much I love you. Always have, always will. And I want you to know that you don't have to worry about me, or any of us anymore. I learned from the best and I feel like I can take on the world because I knew you.

This seems corny, a lame way to say anything. But I couldn't find the words when I was with you. There were too many things running around in my head. So I hope you understand what I am saying. That you can hear through my words and get my real meaning.

Love,

Michelle