My Christmas Break

I laugh that I even called it 'Christmas break'... I am way too old to have a Christmas break, but with John still in school, I will soak in every 'break' we get!

Moving on... My Christmas break was rough. I lost my grandfather on Christmas day. I could go on an on about how much I'll miss him and all the things I wish he could be here for, but that just makes me hurt. So instead, I'll tell you about him and my last days with him.
Dick Davis, my grandfather, gave me so many amazing experiences and memories! He paid for me to participate in a program with Berkley in California the summer after my 9th grade. It was the coolest experience for me. He paid for me to go on numerous ski trips, mission trips, vacations, and countless shopping trips. He made me feel like a million bucks! He brought doughnuts to our house every Saturday morning until my parents moved to North Carolina.
For work (after serving our country), he bought companies that needed help or money and poured into them until they were money makers. Then, he would sell them. He owned a ski resort in Cuchara, CO and I loved getting to go skiing and breaking all the rules b/c my grandfather was Mr.Davis. He also owned a elevator company, and I recall being in a elevator in Dallas at a hotel and seeing ESCO printed inside the elevator. I loved running into 'him' or his company in elevators across the DFW metroplex. He also owned a flashlight company, a plastics company, and company that he couldn't ever leave, General Electrodynamics Corp. GEC was just around the corner from my parents house in Arlington, and I will never forget the summers that he employed me, or the quick drive by's to see him. When I was younger, he use to smoke cigars. He kicked that habit, but I LOVE that the smell of his particular cigar brings back so many memories. There is no possible way to tell you all about what a great man my grandfather was, he was a rare gem.

He had his regular full check up in June and was clean of any cancer or sickness. In July, he was diagnosed with diabetes. He made major changes in his diet and watched carefully what he consumed. He lost a ton of weight and was working his tail off to improve his health. Then, in November he was diagnosed with cancer in his liver, lungs, pancreas, and kidneys. His blood work was taken twice with three days in between, and the difference in the cancer cells was crazy. His cancer was growing at a rapid pace, and all tumors were inoperable. He continued working, taking his dogs on their daily walk, making his Saturday doughnut delivery, and teaching his Sunday School class. But just a month later, Jesus took him home. Someone phrased it by saying he got a personal invitation to Jesus' birthday party. I like that. He was so special, he would totally deserve that.
God had such a hand on my grandfather and his family. Although the rapid descent was painful and sad, what a blessing that he wasn't in pain long. The timing was also such a blessing, that we could all be in town because of the holidays. I got to tell him goodbye, tell him that I love him so much, and thank him for the wonderful family he gave me. His mind was completely with it, through the end, and those last conversations I got to have with him were priceless.
It was also a huge blessing that he was able to stay at home, and didn't have to be in a hospital. On Christmas Eve night, most of the family was at his house. My mom had found out his favorite Hymn and we all surrounded his bed and sang it to him. Pa had been sleeping all day, and was too weak to talk. But right after we finished, he sat up in bed, tears streaming down his face, and praised the Lord. Such a blessing to get to be a part of. It was such a hard night, and yet, looking back I can feel God wrapping us all up in his hand. Thank you Lord.
I am so sad, so very sad that he is gone. But I am beyond blessed that I got to be his granddaughter.
And I am grateful that I still have my Gammy. My precious, precious Gammy.