













Today is his {90th} Birthday.
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Grandpa passed away March 16, 1998. He fought a courageous battle with Colon Cancer. Grandpa was such an amazing man. I miss him like CRAZY. Grandpa has a special piece in my heart-and I know he is my Guardian Angel. Growing up I was his #1 Granddaughter...and he would proudly introduce me as that. (Okay..I was THE ONLY Granddaughter--but HEY....I like the #1 status.) We had a special connection. I have such vivid memories of him. He always had a joke to tell or a smirk on his face. He was onery. He was STUBBORN. He was gentle. He was an AVID Yankee and Husker FAN. He was a WWII Veteran. He was an artist...he loved woodworking and building, and drawing. He was patient. He was kind. He loved his family.
He was Grandpa.
When I met Jason...
I wish that Jason could have met Grandpa. I always wonder what Grandpa would have thought about him. I wanted Grandpa to see me at my Wedding Day. I wish they could have met. I think they would have loved each other.
When I became a Mommy...
I wish that our boys could have met Grandpa. I know they would have been the apple of his eye. I see Grandpa in Ryan when he likes to "tinker and build." I see Grandpa in Grant when he gives me that "stinker grin" and in his love for noodles and macaroni and cheese. I see Grandpa's determination (a.k.a--STUBBORNESS) in both of them. I wonder if Grandpa would have surprises in his shirt pocket for them like he did for Michael and I when we were little. I wonder if he would tell them bedtime stories about Spotty the Dog like he did for us.I wonder if he woudl teah them the "Buddy-Pal" song..and sing it before every meal. I wonder if he would write them letters and draw his pictures and send them in the mail to them. I know on my heart he would do all of that.....and MORE.
Last weekend my brother came down for a visit...and my boys got to "meet" Grandpa.(I got this new little toy that allows me to pull videos off of VHS and convert them to DVD through my computer...so I can save them on my hard-drive. ) Michael brought down an ENTIRE box of tapes that we started to convert...and there was Grandpa. My boys got to see Grandpa and hear his voice. It was cute to see them giggle and laugh at his jokes. It was almost like Grandpa was right in the room with us.
I know Grandpa is looking down on us....
On the day Ryan was born, we both almost lost our lives. And I will never forget my Dr. coming in the room and telling me that I had a Guardian Angel on my shoulder--if I had waited 5 minutes longer to get to the Hosital...we both wouldn't be here today. I knew that Grandpa played a substantial role in that miracle. I went into Labor with Ryan the date my Grandpa passed away--3 years later.
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I know that Mom had an AMAZING Birthday BASH for him in Heaven.
I love you Grandpa.
Cheers.......
I remember that day like it was yesterday. He came into the world GRANT-STYLE~TWO WEEKS EARLY. (if you know Grant you know that we tend to do things ON HIS TIME.) The poor baby didn't even have a name for the first two days of his life...he was known as "Baby Boy Lohr." So..."Baby Boy Lohr"....here is a tribute to those precious 7 years.
From the moment Daddy took you from the nurse and handed you to me, it was love at first sight. I had waited 10 months for see your face and count your fingers and toes.
You have grown into such a handsome young man.
From your "spicy" blond hair, to your blue eyes that snap and dance, you are a ray of son-shine.
A true GQ little man.
My true little CORNHUSKER. From the time you could crawl and sneak into Mamaw Patsy's cupboard and gnaw on microwave popcorn packages, you were a lover of corn. It doesn't matter whether you have all of your teeth or not...You ALWAYS find a way to nibble it straight off the COB.
Once a HUSKER always a HUSKER. As a little boy who wore a chip-dip bowl on your head as your "helmie" you graduated to a real HELMET this year, you are a natural on that field. We have loved cheering you on. We are very proud of you #70.
Our little SOCCER STUD.
~ROCKSTAR~
I have been thinking a lot about what I would do if I would have one more day with my Mom and I decided I would spend my day thanking her. Something I have realized that I didn't do enough of. So Mom....I Thank You.....
I would thank you for always supporting our endeavors. You were always our biggest fan. No matter what we were involved in you were always there for us.
I would thank you for your kindness and gentleness. You had an amazing ability to always make it better with a kiss and a hug.
I would thank you for your sense if humor. You had an ornery streak in you that wouldn't quit. As a little girl I never understood why you had to be "weird".....BUT....as a grown UP I get it. And I love you for that.
I would thank you for your Patience. WOW! Mom some days I don't know how you did it. You always held it together.
I would thank you for teaching us That no matter how old we are we are still your babies....OH AND YOU WERE STILL THE MOM. How many times did I hear "You will always be my little girl?"
Thank you for putting up with my sassiness and stubborness. I know that I was quite a handful in my teen years. And looking back I don't know how we made it, I know that you were right about it ALL. I would take all that ugliness back if I could. But then again, I guess that's why we have the wonderful relationship we do.
Thank you for giving the fundamentals for being a good wife. You and Dad had a very strong marriage, and I am so blessed to have been brought up in the strong family dynamic that I did.
Thank you for showing me that life is too short to be a Party Pooper.....it's much better when you can laugh and have a good time. You were always the life of the party.
Thank you for the strong foundation of motherhood. I am so glad that I got to learn from the best. I look back and wonder how you did it all when Michael and I were growing up. You were always organized and on top of your A game. You not worked full time, you were a full time Mom and always made sure we came first.
Thank you for your love of the Fourth of July. I will never be able to look at the American Flag quite the same. I can only imagine what fireworks look like from Heaven.
I would thank you for your Courage. When you were diagnosed with Breast cancer......you never once questioned the diagnosis with "Why Me?" You fought with ALL your will, never complaining. You made sure that it was known that YOU had cancer.....cancer DID NOT HAVE YOU. You did not have an expiration date stamped on your foot. You continued to live life to the fullest everyday considering the struggles that you were facing.