Carmella's Hang Out

Sometime during the last year, it was decided that once there was time, my Grandparents bathroom needed to be gutted and re-built. June 17 was set as the day. I took the day off so that I could join in the fun!! I knew I would not be able to ‘help’ as much as I might like to, but I still wanted to be there. One of my Uncles would be there, I knew, and one of my aunts {both my Dad’s siblings. Once we got there, I found that another Aunt….my Uncles wife, had come also.}

I love seeing my Granddad, but it seems every time I do it is a bit harder. Twice during that day, I had to turn my head so that others would not see the tears that were welling up in my eyes. As I have said before, Grampa has a hard time remembering who I am. However, up until Saturday, he had always known at least, that I was one of his. Saturday, he did not even know I was related to him at all, let alone that I was Carm his granddaughter. The first clue? He told me just how much pain he was in, and how many times he fallen and hurt himself. I have always known that he is in constant pain, and that he falls. But he never tells me just how MUCH pain he is in. He will say “Oh, I’m ok. Hurt, but I’ll live.” There was a terrible amount of pain in his voice on Saturday when he looked at me and said, “I always hurt, and I hurt so much.” Then he looked at Caeley, and said, ‘You are bigger than I remember you.” And then told me, ‘I don’t recognize her. Who is she?” I told him who she was, and he exclaimed, ‘Its my girl!’ Yet, he still didn’t know who I was. He asked me if I was someone he had met at my Aunts house. I said, “Grampa, I’m Carmella…..David’s daughter.” It took him a few more seconds, but he knew who David was….so he slowly remembered who I was. He then did not make any more mention of the pain he was in. That is, until lunch. Gramma asked if he would pray before the meal. I love, and have always loved listening to my Granddad pray. He does not put on a show, or seem as though he is reading from a script. He is just talking to his oldest and dearest friend. And this time, he asked his friend to help him with the pain he was in. That, is the second time I wanted to cry. In all my years, I don’t think I have ever heard him pray for himself. Not that I think it was wrong of him to. It is just that my Grampa is such a giving and thoughtful man, he never seemed to think to pray for himself. THAT is just how much pain he is in. The thought that he is in that much pain, hurts my heart so much. At one time, he told Dad {who he has often discussed his pain issues with} that his hands feel as though they are on fire. As he said that, he touched two fingers together, and jumped. He is tired all the time……a fact that is not surprising given that he is 89 years old. He says he is ready to see His Father, but also does not want to leave yet…..looking at my Gramma he said, “I would rather walk up there with you at my side and say to my Lord, ‘Thank you Lord, for this woman.’”

We went back yesterday {Monday} to do more work on the room. I love the fact that I got to go once again. It was nice to see my Grandparents twice in three days!!!! It is hard to describe a conversation with Gramma. She is such a hoot!! The lady is, herself, in her eighties……but I bet you would not know it from meeting her. She prays for each of her grandkids at night, as well as many missionaries and family friends. Anytime we see her, she remembers to ask how our friend {sister} Chris is, and how our University Students are.

 One of my favorite Gramma phrases is “Well then I would just tell them…….” {‘tell them’ always seems to be emphasized in this cute way that lets you know just how strongly she feels about this subject you are talking about.} She does not even know it, sometimes, but she can say just the right thing. Encouraging you in what you need without you having to ask for it. Such as, if I am having a problem at work, and she finds out about it, she says “Well, then I would just tell them…..I’d tell them, now listen here…..I don’t have to take this…..” Always reminding me to be Christlike but still able to say when enough is enough. I can see that is where my Dad gets it from. He often will say, “Well then I would say!” It is so cute when Gramma says it though, cause you don’t expect this small 80+ lady to be ‘giving them a piece of her mind.’ She has a way of telling you just what you need to hear, and always showing the Love of Christ in her praise, reprimand, and daily conversation!! Yes….my grandparents rock!!

Now….given how many pictures I have taken in just these two days, I have no clue how I am going to make it through three weeks of vacation this summer!!! I am going to need allot of one-time-use cams!! Oy is my developing bill going to be costly after our return from my Canadian Grandparents house!!!

Ok….nough of the gabbing….bring on the pics!

Gramma working in the garden.

Day one of the bathroom re-do.

The shower….or what use to be the shower.

Dad-”We gotta lift that thing outta there…..ugh.” Me-’Can I help?’ Dad-’I wont let you!”

 

My Uncle-”I forgot how much water that little bit of pipe can hold…..even after the water is turned off!!”

This USE to be IN the bathroom!

This was once the shower.

Trying to keep the dirt down a BIT. HA!!

POWER TOOLS!!!!!!

I thought this was a pretty good pic ‘description’ of my Uncle. He was so tired that day….that this was kinda how he looked to ALL of us!!

Takin a break.

New window will be on soon. When this room was put in, my Grampa used the window from a camper!!!

Later that night…..the new full sized window looks great!

An outhouse, ya think?

The junk pile!

Work continues:

As it does outside as well!

*SHOCK* Tiff wore shoes!!!! Only when she took them off could you see JUST how dirty she got out there in the garden!

Grampa-”are you done with my paper?”

Grampa-”She took my paper!”

Later that night, Grampa and the kids played some cane hockey!!

The supervisors!!

DAY TWO:

Like I said, we went back on Monday, but not for the entire day. This time, only after the guys finished their full days of work at home!!! Talk about tiring! I didn’t get as many pics of this day, cause I got to be involved more and help! {The first day, while I did help with the gardening, I also had to take a break or two….or three, for my back.}

Siblings

Break time to talk about favourtie TV shows!

At least on Day two, they had more than rickety old chairs to stand on!!

 

There is still much work to be done. And more shall…..this coming Saturday. I have to work 10-6…..so we shall see if I am able to get over there at all.