Grandpa Juenemann

 Early this morning I had a dream.  I was at a house that I do not know.  I was going from a room that was an addition to the original little house into the main part on the house.  At the doorway between the two was 2 steps.  At the bottom of the steps was a man in a wheelchair.  It was my Grandpa Fred Juenemann.   I stopped in my tracks and just looked at him in surprise.  "Grandpa?" I asked in shock.  He replied "Grandpa" confirming it was really him.  I ran to him, hugged and kissed him, crying.  I rubbed his bald head and just held on to him.  He placed his arms around me.  I was overwhelmed, overjoyed, excited to see him again.  I told him how much I love him and have missed him.  The joy surrounded both of us.  When we finished hugging, his hair was full and combed in a swirl up on the top of his head as it was when he was a young man.  I just took in every detail of him.  I could see him as an old man sitting in his wheelchair after a stroke.  I could then see him as a young man, full head of hair, strong and smiling, loving life.  He was then sitting at an outdoor table eating a meal with a lot of other people.  Our eyes met and he smiled at me. I knew everything was good.

Then I woke up.  I was still feeling the amazement and joy of seeing my Grandpa again.  I just laid in bed experiencing that joy.  I thought of the joy we will feel when we are joined together in Heaven again.  I thought about the joy of being sealed together as a family one day.  I prayed with gratitude for this experience.

Grandpa passed away July 6, 1976.  He was 79 years old.  He had a stroke and sat slumped in a wheelchair, arms and hands curled in with his elbows resting on the chair armrests. He wore belt around his waist and the chair so he would not slide out.  He had trouble speaking clearly.  I will always remember his smile.  I remember him as a happy man.  He loved to play pool, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and cards.  He even tried to teach me how to play pitch with him but I was a hopeless cause at the game. He usually had a cigarette burning.  He rolled his own cigarettes.  The tin of tobacco and cigarette papers sat by his chair next to a floor standing ashtray. Once at a family gathering at my grandparents house celebrating a wedding anniversary, everyone was taking pictures of Grandpa and Grandma.  He winked then patted Grandma on the back side.  She blushed and acted like a shy school girl and Grandpa just laughed. I loved that.

Soon I will have my dad sealed to his parents.  One day I will be sealed to my parents.  I am grateful for the plan of salvation and the knowledge of eternal families.

What a great way to wake up this morning!

Rose