Birthday love sent up to you!

As a kid Halloween and Nov. 1st were celebrated as birthdays in our house hold. As you may have read yesterday was my sister's birthday, but today would have been my grandpa's birthday. As a family we would all (mom, dad, Abby, grandma, and grandpa) go out trick or treating and then home for the birthday parties! I loved that Abby and grandpa always got to celebrate together. I'm not sure of as a kid she loved it but I always though it was so neat. You know to have a birthday partner with double the cakes and goodies. Well today grandpa we celebrate in your name! Happy birthday up there...and tell grandma we love y'all and miss you like crazy.

Happy Birthday

Today is my grandpa's birthday.  We always had such fun celebrating Abby's birthday and then following it with grandpa's the next day.  As a kid that was a dream come true...2 days of cake and parties!

Happy Birthday Grandpa I am sure you are enjoying every moment of it up there!  We love you! 

A year ago….

 

today was the day my grandpa took his last breath. Thankfully we were all there to be with him as he did.  However, all though it has been a year…he has been a part of us for every moment.  Grandpa today is for you!  Thinking of you always….missing you tons!!

His life in review...

Well since I could hardly speak at grandpa's funeral on Tuesday without crying...I thought I would just add the link to the amazing obituary mom and Abby wrote. Many of the details in it were ones I spoke of at the funeral....however I did add a few of my most amazing memories of grandpa too. If you would like to view it you may by clicking here.


**sorry the blogging has been a bit slow, I do not have my computer now...so it makes blogging harder. Plus kinda not been in the mood to.

A day for celebration....

Norman Jacob Hand, Jr.

July 10th for the past 10 years has been a day for celebration in our family. This was the day that my sister wed the man of her dreams! It was a beautiful evening with love, laughter, friends, and close family. Well this year July 10th has brought our family another reason for celebration.....a celebration of life.

On July 10, as a I sat next to my grandpa, he took in his last breath at 9:18 pm, he released it at 9:20 and by 9:22 pm he was in God's hands. The 3 days leading up to this moment were very challenging for my self as well as my mom, grandma, and sister. We were comforted by the face that grandpa was able on July 10th to be at peace. The whole evening we discussed how 10 years ago we were at an amazing wedding. We told grandpa that he was dancing the night away with the love of his life. They spent that night dancing and enjoying all that Abby's wedding had to offer our family. Now 10 years later we were able to enjoy wonderful memories and a peaceful good bye to a man who loved us unconditionally.

Mom and grandma holding grandpa's hand in his final moments....

Grandma and Grandpa spent their high school days in Bently, KS. The where also married in this wonderful town at a very young age. Grandpa had also been handed down the family farm...which is there too. Therefore, many years ago grandma and grandpa chose Bently as their final resting place. From Amarillo to Bently, Ks we all traveled to make the final arrangments for sweet grandpa.