Photos from Our trip

http://picasaweb.google.com/rautis2/GrampsFuneral#

I know it is late but if you go to the website listed above you cna view photos from the funeral and from Lubbock

Videos from Lubbock

Video of Rachel and cousin Elise playing at Rob's Grandmothers house in Lubbock

So proud of my Boy!

Today we finally got his report card. SInce we were gone to the funeral we missed parent teacher conferences so we got the report. He did so well. THey are rated on the alphabet scale for their reading and he is at a U. I am told that is really high for second grade. He did really well on all of it exfept his handwriting which his teacher says is improving but not at the rate she would like to see. Oh well, he does come by that one honestly.

We are back!

A long trip but we are back and had a pretty good time. The service was very nice. It was funny and light hearted which is exactly what he would have wanted. Other than his casket almost taking a ride down the hill it was nice. We had a toast to Gramps at a lunch the church had provided for the family. We had IBC Root Beer and Twinkies. Very yummy. We relaxed afterwards with family and just had a nice time. The next day we headed over to Lubbock, TX to visit some of Robs family and enjoy some time with them. We stayed at his Grandmas house and she seems to be doing very well. We visited his Uncle Pax and AUnt Mary and the whole gang showed up as well. On Monday we got to take his Grandma out to breakfast for her Birthday. We took her to Cracker Barrel and she had a great time. We left Teusday morning and headed back to Alb to help mom and dad take care of some of the stuff that had been cleared out of Grandpas place. We got to have dinner with Mammaw and Pappaw. Very nice. We headed back wednesday morning and arrived home late that night. Glad to be home and I will post pictures as soon as I get the program loaded back into the computer.

Update

He did pass away at about 9pm last night. My mom said he went very peacefully.

Gramps

So if you don't know my grandpa is very ill and will be passing away soon. Over the last couple of days I have had a lot of time to think about this. He has Alzheimer's and dementia. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be loosing your mind and have no control over it. I know it must be driving this genius of a man crazy. He was always so amazing and smart. He always knew the right things to say to make you feel better and was so concerned about others. I know that he will be happier with grandma again. I hate to see him go but I know that God has better plans for him. I was talking with my cousin about this earlier tonight and we started talking about all the fun things that we used to do with him. Like Twinkies and A&W Root beer, or Flat Cat Pancakes on a Saturday morning when we had stayed the night there. Or Playing John Phillips Sousa as loud as the stereo would go to wake us up. Or coming to visit the Michelle and Tina travel agency to take trips to Swaziland. I love you gramps and wish you well. Kiss grandma for me!