Grandpa Joe

Grandpa Joe is one of my most favorite people in the whole world. Other people may think that their grandpa is great, but mine really takes the cake. One of my first memories was fishing with Gramps in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. He was helping me and I remember that my only catch was too small, so we had to let it go. Another event on our Lava trip that I only vaguely remember, but am reminded by over and over again by Grampa is dancing on the table with my cousin, Heather (Heather used to invite people to come and watch us perform). Back in junior high there were four of us taking early morning piano lessons on Wednesdays. Grandpa came out to make us belgium waffles with ice cream, steak and eggs, pancakes, and every fancy breakfast meal you can think of, while he ran us back and forth to our lessons. He has always been the best with the griddle. Right before my junior year of high school I moved in with my Grandma and Grandpa. It started off as a short stay, and turned into close to ten years(minus the mission). Gramps has always loved head rubs. When I was little, we used to make a penny a minute to rub his head. Believe it or not, there were lines to rub his head. When I was older and living at with him, I remember many, many nights when we would be up late watching Johnny Carson, and then Jay Leno, and sitting by Gramps on the couch. Sometimes he asked, and other times he would just remind me that I hadn't rubbed his head in a while. Seems like more often than not I ended up rubbing his head. Every night before I went in to bed he would always tell me that he loves me. I once had the opportunity to speak in our ward on Father's Day about Grandpa. I don't remember all the things I said back then, but I do remember being so excited to be able to honor him in that way, especially because it was a surprise to him. I knew that I was speaking for all the grandkids. So the most clever thing Gramps did that had us laughing the hardest happened one night when it was getting dark. A couple of guys from school (Rich and Scott) had parked down the street and were setting something up on our doorstep to ask me to a dance. While they were busy doing there thing, Grandpa sneaked out the side door and down to their truck and took the keys where they had been left in the ignition. He came into my room with the biggest smile on his face, dangling the keys for me to see. We both laughed so hard. Needless to say, the said boys were knocking on my bedroom window in lieu of a quick getaway, asking if by chance we had their keys. I think they were a little more clever the next time.... There are so many stories to share, but mostly I just love him because he always did everything in his power to show me how much he loved me. I think that is the most important thing a grandparent can do.... I love you, Gramps!

Grandpa and Gracie, August 1, 2008. His hair is messy from a head rub.

Grandma, Ben, Isaac, Mitchell, Grandpa and Riley, August 2007. This is the way Grandpa really looks.