{tears}

Yesterday was particularly difficult for me regarding the family

members that are no longer here on Earth with us.  I still found myself

making each of their favorite dishes. Strange, I know.  I had to turn off the Macy's
 Day Parade as that was what Grandpa and I watched together
every year since  I was tiny.  Even when I cooked for the whole
 family, I always made sure that

was on for him when he was here waiting for me to finish up. 

To see the boys play football in the backyard broke my heart knowing

that my dad never got to see them.  It was a great day but with many

apple in the throat moments with a few tears. 

 

We had an unexpected visit from my youngest brother who had dinner

with Shawn and his family.  Although he was warned re: the

stomach bug, he said he couldn't be this close in proximity and not

see the boys.  The boys were thrilled.  Then, I was thrilled as he

went to the storage unit with me to load up the car with

my Christmas tree and decorations.  Well, at least all that would

fit in one trip. {wink}  On the way home we talked about

our grandparents mostly and he asked me about the spring.

 

The spring.

 

I had heard about the spring my whole life but I guess

I never realized how close it actually was.  One

Thanksgiving while driving Grandpa home, he asked me

if I would like to go see if we could find it.  Well, of course.

And, it was between my house and his.   It was a day that

is completely priceless to me.  The conversations we had.  Seeing

how being in that spot took him back in time 60+ years.  We

found the spring without any difficulty and it was full and overflowing;

we both drank out of it.  Then, we ventured through the woods

to see if we could find the old home site.

 

This was where my grandmother lived as a girl.  This is where my

grandfather would walk miles and miles to see her as often as he could.

It was an old mining area, an area which is now reclaimed.  The

spring was the community watering source.  He walked there with

her on many occasions and gathered water for her family. We also

found the foundation of the home site.  I simply cannot

put into words how precious that day will always be to me.

It was to him too as he talked about it all the way up until he died.

 

So, yesterday James told me he had never been there.  I had just

gone back about two months ago and was in a complete panic as I

couldn't find it and I was fearful the land had been purchased due to

new fencing that was up with no trespassing signs.   I decided to

go back after some of the grass and growth died down. 

 

We found it almost immediately, a tree had fallen over it.

It was dry, but it was beautiful.  Because it had been

so full and overflowing of water the day I had been there

with Grandpa, I had not been able to see the rock work that

virtually turned it into a well.   There was a brick that

was not supporting anything, so I now have that.

 

A brick.

 

That brick is one of my most prized possessions now.

I know that sounds crazy, but to have a small

piece of something that was so dear to his heart, made

my heart really happy. 

 

Even though we miss them all terribly, it is amazing

how they are truly all still with us.