Loss

This topic isn't directly related to my trip but it still impacts the entire experience. On Tuesday afternoon, June 19th, my grandfather passed away after battling many issues over the last few months. Grandpa had been in and out of the hospital since April and it has been an emotional roller coaster since the beginning. My grandpa has always been an inspiration to me. He was a man who had many dreams and worked hard to make them possible. He cared for others far more than he ever cared for himself. He was a family man and drew all his joy from them. He lived a life of integrity and humility despite his many accomplishments. This is a man that I looked up to and who showed me qualities in his life that I strive to live by everyday. He was very sharp witted (I think I know where Calab gets it from) and always had a joke that made you think but in the end got you laughing. Looking back, I find that I learned more from this man than I ever realized. And none of that will be forgotten and I'm going to take it forward and strive to live my life in a way to honor my grandpa. The final aspect of my grandpa that I want to mention was his absolute love and personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that was reflected by the way he lived his life. My grandpa loved, he lived and now he can hear "well done good and faithful servant" as he is reunited with his true love.