Jim's Grandpa Doug was a very special part of our lives in the early years of our relationship when we lived in Nanaimo before moving to PR. Him and his wife Doris were very supportive of us and helped us out whenever they could. They lent us their truck for date nights and grocery shopping, they had us over for dinner, and even came in the middle of the night to take me to the hospital when I had a Crohn's attack and Jim was out of town working.
When we announced we were getting married Grandpa was sick with cancer and while he didn't want to do chemo he committed to it anyways. He said he would do anything to be at our special day.
We asked him to do the sand ceremony during our wedding and we were so grateful he was able to do it. Just two weeks before the big day he called us one day with barely any voice and said he wasn't sure if he was going to be well enough to do it after all. A side effect of the chemo had left him with very little voice. We were heartbroken but hopeful that somehow he would be able to do it.
Fast forward those two weeks and he showed up for our wedding weekend looking and feeling great and so excited to be part of our special day. Doris even told us how he had spent the day before they came making that special folder with our names on it to to hold the words to the sand ceremony. We still have the folder to this day and it holds those words, plus our wedding vows and other wedding mementos.
This part of our ceremony is truly the one that holds the most memory for Jim and I and it was all because of Grandpa.
One of my favorite photos of all time.
Sadly just a few weeks after our wedding Grandpa called to say that he was done with chemo and was ready to go. He died less than 3 months later and while his death was such a sad time in our lives we both love him so much and are so grateful for the personal sacrifices he made in order to be there for us.
Grandpa's wife Doris is such a special person in our lives, even to this day. When Grandpa was dying in the hospital Jim made sure to tell him that we would always be there for her and she would always be part of our family, and she absolutely is.
This trip down memory lane was brought on after I posted those photos the other day of our family and how much it's changed since that day we got married. Grandpa was such a big part of our day and his memory lives on for Jim and I very deeply.
When I looked at the pictures of our family growing and changing year by year and I was thinking of Grandpa, what came to mind was that I would like to think that he would be proud of us and the life we've created for ourselves. I know for sure that he would have absolutely adored our kids if he'd been given the chance to meet them. I think he would have gotten a real kick out of Jordie as he's so much like Jim personality wise. And of James because he's such an odd combination of Jim and I. And of Kennedy just cause she's hilarious and just like her Mama.
He was such a special man and I feel so very fortunate to have been a part of his life even if it was only for a short number of years. I do believe he's out there somewhere watching over us and smiling down on us as we go about our daily lives.
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