Pop-Pop

As joyful as our Christmas was, it was also panged with sadness, as my husband's Grandpa, Pop-Pop, went to be with Jesus. We are comforted by knowing he is with the Lord, and he will no longer have to fight against cancer. He will be terribly missed by all of us. I am thankful I got to know Donald Ohl Sr. and have a Grandpa in my life again.

When Andrew and I got married, we took a few trips to spend time with Nana and Pop-Pop at their trailer in the mountains, their favorite place to be. That was the first time Pop told me the story of Blitzer, the goat who ran away. And about my husbands infamous childhood line, "Uh oh Spaghetti-O!" We got ice cream at the little shop in town, rode 4-wheelers, picked berries, shot at targets, played horse-shoes, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, and played cards. Pop-Pop told funny stories and talked about the ways of the Pennsylvania Dutch. He loved the outdoors, hunting and building things with his own two hands.

He was the Father of 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. I only knew Pop-Pop for the last 5 years, but I know that he loved God and he loved his family very much. Pop-Pop's oldest son Dennis, my father-in-law, is a wonderful father and husband. Dennis and Marilyn raised two wonderful sons, one of whom is my amazing husband, Andrew, and a beautiful daughter, Laura, with a family of her own. It is a rare blessing to see family values and godly morals carried down through 4 generations. I am blessed to part of this family. It won't be the same without Pop-Pop but I know we will see him again one day.

Maybe he's riding a 4-wheeler beside heaven's sea of glass right now.