Grandpa Koyle

I was scheduled to fly to Idaho/Utah on Friday, January 4th for my sister's wedding. Just two days before that my Grandpa Koyle had a massive stroke while he was sleeping. He was in the hospital when I arrived on Friday the 4th. I was able to hold his hand, tell him I love him and watch him sleep peacefully. He had many complications due to his sudden stroke; he was paralyzed on one side, couldn't speak, and couldn't eat. We had a very bitter-sweet weekend with a wedding and preparing to say good-bye to our Grandpa. By the time Sunday rolled around I was so emotionally exhausted. I drove my Grandma to the hospital Sunday morning and sat and held Grandpa's hand for several more minutes. I knew I would never see him again, in this life, and it wasn't easy to say good-bye. I also felt so blessed that I was able to be in Idaho to see him, even though I live in North Carolina. God truly works in mysterious ways. I flew home to North Carolina on Monday the 7th and shortly after I arrived home I got the call that Grandpa had passed. I missed his funeral, but I have countless memories of my Grandpa to hold on to.

 My 3 year old self with my sister and Grandpa Koyle

 Grandpa proud of my brother Ethan after he returned from his mission.

 Grandpa and Grandma

Together for almost 59 years. 

As I think back on my life and skimmed through my journals, my fondest memory of my Grandpa was that he was always around.  I was blessed to be able to live up the street from Grandma and Grandpa Koyle for 19 years of my life. Almost every day Grandpa would drive around in his old, white pick-up truck and fiddle with the sprinklers in the field, or something else on the farm. It seems like he was always outside working on something; the garden, machinery, sprinklers, or taking care of animals. He was always around on our birthdays, and Grandma and Grandpa were good about coming to say happy birthday. Us grandkids always dreaded Grandpa’s “birthday spankings”, because they hurt so bad. But, now it is one of our fondest memories. Grandpa was also around on holidays and for reunions; he made his family a priority. I will never forget our Sunday evenings gathered at Grandma and Grandpa’s house playing while the adults talked about politics and church. Us kids would play Old Maid, or spend countless hours on the teeter-totters and swings that Grandpa made for us. He was always around to help out; he would fix our toilets, our leaking pipes, irrigate our lawn, or cut my brothers’ hair.  When I have the chance to visit Idaho again it is hard to think that Grandpa won’t be up the street with his cute smile and hugs. But, I know that he is always around still, just in a different way, always looking down on us and smiling as we “work” our way through this life.