Grandpa Vance

My Grandpa, Vance Thompson passed away on Tuesday the 14th, although I am so sad, I am so thankful that he isn't suffering anymore. Everyone that knew him loved him. Whether it was his family, his neighbors, the people at the restaurants he ate at often, the neighborhood kids or someone he just met. He treated everyone like they were his friend. I feel sorry for those of you who never had the chance to meet him...I wish you would have. I know that you would know exactly what I am talking about. We went to his funeral today (July 18), I hope that someday when I am gone and my life story is written my Grandchildren will feel as lucky to have had me as a grandma as I was to have him!! As each of my aunts and uncles and my Dad got up to speak, it was obvious what Grandpa Vance was all about. Family and Friendship...everyone mentioned that we all thought that we were his favorite because at one point or another he told you that. My dad said, "he meant it too. At the moment he told you that, you were his very favorite, the only person that mattered!!" We laughed and cried remembering Grandpa at his funeral, he was so funny. I loved that my Uncle Jack said that up in Heaven they must be having a party because my Grandpa was "A party waiting to happen!" My Aunt Nancy stood up and said, "You may not be able to tell from looking at me but I am the most beautiful girl in the word...my dad told me so." She made me cry because my Grandpa had a way to make you feel so special, I never left his house feeling like I wasn't just perfect the way I was and sometimes I really needed that. It was hard for me to watch my Dad, the strongest man I know be so sad. I know that even though Grandpa has passed on every time I look at my dad I will see a little of my Grandpa, when I watch my dad play with my kids I will be reminded of my sweet Grandpa. Some of the things my dad says to my kids I remember Grandpa saying to me. They are so similar, I know that my Dad will have the same impact on my children as Grandpa had on me. I am so thankful for that.


I always new this, but I am the luckiest girl in the world to have the family I have. My Brothers and Sisters would do anything for me, they have been there for me through thick and thin. My parents are as good as they get...I don't know how they do it? They have seven children but I have never felt like I wasn't getting what I need from them. My husband is the love of my life I don't know how I got so lucky? My boys are my pride and joy, we have been through so much together. When Griffen comes up to me for no reason at all just to give me a kiss or when Cooper looks at me with those big brown eyes I am at that moment the happiest I have ever been. They melt me (yes, sometimes their stinkers but when they do something sweet I am immediately reminded of how much I love them and my stress is no more) I just love my family, I want them to know that. I learned that from my Grandpa, there are many things that I don't want to regret when I leave this life...having my family and people I knew wonder if I loved them is most important to me.


I know that my Grandpa is already watching over us. We were at his viewing on Friday night and about to leave. I couldn't find Griffen anywhere? I was starting to panic when I had other people looking and no one was having any luck. I kept thinking..."go check outside" I would talk myself out of it because he never goes outside without me. Finally I listened to myself. I looked over at the Tabernacle and there was Griffen, with someone that I didn't recognize. They were walking away from me. I was hysterical, then I saw my brother Jon. He was walking towards Griffen and the man, Jon said something the man and started walking back to the mortuary with Griff. Long story short, Griffen had walked out the door when my sister left (he was trying to catch her to tell her something.) I don't know how he crossed the busy street and made it to the tabernacle, but he did? My brothers were all in a car leaving the mortuary when they saw Griffen. Jon hopped out and brought him to me. It turns out that the guy that had him was an uncle to the sweet little girl that had just passed away and Jon knew him. The guy was trying to help Griffen find his parents, Griffen was turned around and leading him North. I know that Grandpa was watching over Griffen, he could have so easily been hit by a car, kidnapped, that nice man could have never stopped to see him, what are the chances that my brothers even saw and realized that it was Griff. If I think about all that could have gone wrong it makes me sick. I know, I know I deserve a "bad Mom" badge. Thankfully, though it was a tearful reunion, it was happy.