In memory

Quite sadly and unexpectedly, Gabriel's beloved grandfather Robert Hay passed away in May. (The obituary can be found here.) Even more sadly, this happened while our family was in Pennsylvania and we were unable to travel back to Grand Rapids during his decline in the few days before he died. We are thankful in retrospect that we had decided somewhat spontaneously to travel to Grand Rapids in early April, and while we were there, Grandpa was able to see Gabriel, Jonah and Manny for what would be the last time. Thank God for such mercies. One of my sweetest (by which I mean "bitter-sweetest," of course) memories of the visitation and the funeral is the image of our boys' photos placed beside Grandpa's body in the casket. Though by the time the boys were born Grandpa didn't have the physical capacity to be rough-and-tumble with them, it was clear that he loved them very much, and it was touching to see the photos beside him as evidence of this love.

A couple days after the funeral, after Gabe had returned to Chicago for work, Jonah and Manny and I visited the cemetery to place some flowers on Grandpa's grave. During the weekend of the funeral, we explained to Jonah that Grandpa Hay's body would go into the ground to wait for Christ's return and the bodily resurrection, at which time Grandpa's salvation would be complete. Jonah was as interested in this as an almost-three-year old boy can be, I think, and he was very enthusiastic and sweet when leaving the flowers in memory. How much he understands, of course, we really don't know, but his child's understanding is as pure and sweet as anyone's.

We love you, Grandpa Hay, and you are missed and your memory is cherished.