I Just Love You

There is not many people in life that will have such an impact that will directly change the course of how one spends their time, how one handles problems, and teaches someone what is truly important in life. My grandfather, or as I called him, “Pap” was one of the only people who always believed in me and whatever I wanted to accomplish with my life. My Pap was very inspirational in my life because he taught me through his good example that obstacles can harm but never stop so long as you keep fighting for what is desired. He taught me about resolution, and to never give up no matter the odds and instilled confidence in me that I can do anything so long as I am willing to work for it. He always stressed to me that materialistic things in life do not matter, as long as the family and friends are there for support and love. He directly influenced the way I spend my time and what I enjoy to do.

What I admire most What I admire most about my great grandpa is that he was a hero to save a bunch of people but yet he is still my grandpa. I also like how he is kind and respectful to everyone he meets because he knows that you need to treat others how you want to be treated because if you don’t others will be mean to you. Another way I admire him is that he is helpful and tries to help as best as he can.

I never really knew my grandpa as well as I would have liked. He was already an old, old man by the time I started high school, and my own memories of him are mostly of a man confined by age and ailing health. So I'm not really going to talk about my memories of him. Instead, I'm going to try to share his memories and the memories of those that knew him.

He was hard working, honest, and the smartest man I've ever met. In 94 years, i can assure you, he never broke a promise, never let someone down, and absolutely never disappointed his family name. Gramp excelled in an era in which nothing was done for you, there were no computers, and internet. An era in which you had to absorb, listen, and learn, something he was particularly good at. He was successful at everything, especially while at the helm of his trucking and logging company for over 50 years. One of the most demanding industries there is in our area, an industry that was constantly changing, and he never missed a beat. Gramp was always ahead of the curve, the best of the best, and a pioneer in his industry, and he took pride in that.

In March of 2001, my great grandma Simpson passed away at one hundred years old. She had a great impact on me as a kid. I remember going to her house and making molasses cookies with her and drinking hot tea. She was a woman of many talents and loved sharing them with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. We all loved helping her take care of her baby lambs and bottle feeding the ones whose mothers did not care for them. Her death was difficult, but knowing she lived a long productive life made it easier to handle. Her death was symbolic as

It is safe to assume that the author is no stranger to death. He has seen many people close to him grieve. He has noticed that everyone grieves differently. He understands the need for God’s grace in the midst of grief to get one through the stages of grief.

kids. I was known to be awkward and mysterious to others around me during this time. Like any

My grandfather, J. King Burk, is a man of very few words, but if you get to know him you will come to find that he has been through a lot in his lifetime. My brother and I have a connection with him that most grandchildren don’t have with their grandparents because he was with us when our parents separated. He understands how difficult it is to be raised by one parent, he helped raise my brother and I, and I go to him when I’m making important decisions.

My grandfather has always been a big part of my life as he has a love for outdoors that is contagious. He instilled in me the love of nature and wildlife. As a young child I remember listening to his hunting and fishing stories. It always sounded like something I would enjoy. When I was young I knew my grandfather exaggerated his stories, but it made them all the more exciting. We started scouting deer together when I was about 10 years old. I will always remember the first time that I shot a deer. My grandfather was there to share the joy and excitement and he was happy too.

My grandma had survived a hard life, and yet managed to raise four responsible, well-educated, and successful children. All this she did while working as a respected psychiatric nurse and a state mental health board member. Although she had had and was still overcoming trials in life, I always knew she would be there and cared about me and my life. As my brother and I grew older and were unable to visit my grandparents as often as we

My grandfather in law, Ray Schmitt, had a true connection with me and my family. Even though he was not directly related, he always treated me and my family like his sons and daughters. He would always welcome us with smiles and even though he fought through hard times, like occasion strokes, he never forgot to put a big smile on his face. My mom said, “ He was a devoted family man to everyone, and he was devoted to the faith, and that showed in his actions.”

One happy day my great grandfather was born. His name is George Allen Clemons. He is one of the most people that I cherish the most ever. He helps me with getting my coon dog ready for hunts, charge my coon light, gets my boots and pants together, and he keeps my back tracker and garmin charged. Not only does he do that, every time I break the four wheeler or it breaks down he gets it fixed or fixes it.

Both of my grandfathers have always been an enormous inspiration to me. Growing up in Germany during World War II, my grandfather on my mother's side was forced to overcome a great deal of disapproval and diversity. As a result his family moved to the United States and he became a minority in his school and society seeing that he only knew a few English words. His strength during his adolescence is beyond inspirational, however, beyond question his greatest influence on me is his passion for golf. I️ began playing golf with him when I️ was ten years old and it was the best decision I️ have ever made.

For many people, Grandpa is a storyteller, someone to go fishing with, and someone who has your back no matter what. The experience I had with my grandpa was a little different. I never got the opportunity to meet my great-grandfather Liston Grider, but he still somehow managed to have a huge impact on my life. Sometimes my mom would tell stories about him; happy memories from her childhood, sad ones that were painful for her to tell, and everything in between. I thought I had heard it all, but this past summer I learned something about my great grandpa that would perhaps impact my life forever. This story was not told by my mom like usual, but by someone who was a complete stranger to me. The lessons I learned would not be taught in a single day, but over the span of a month through a series of Facebook messages and letters in the mail. The words I read upon opening those messages and letters would change my life forever, permanently transform my beliefs, and show me what it truly means to be an American.

Everyone has someone they look up to as a role model or someone they strive to be like in some certain way. My grandfather is one of the most influential and important people in my life. He has taught me many of the life lessons I carry with me on a daily basis. I cherish the stories and experiences he has shared with me throughout life and would not trade them for anything in this world. His qualities and the way he lives his life have been a good leading example to me that I attempt to follow on a daily basis. To me, my grandfather is a symbol for how I should try to live my life. He is a symbol that represents many of the things I think it takes to be considered a good person. He is a symbol for the determination, selflessness, and positive attitude I want to have in this life.