My Grandpa's Life Story
Nearing the completion of creating my Grandma's life story book I developed the desire to also write my Grandpa's life story. But how was I supposed to write his life story when he passed away when I was only 6 months, to the day?
Many miracles happened to make his book possible. I called my Mom and expressed my desire to write Grandpa's life story. Shortly after my Grandpa (my Mom's Dad) passed away, she also had a desire to record his life. She knew that Grandpa used to write to his favorite cousin often. She contacted this cousin who was still alive. He still had letters that Grandpa had written to him. He would send a few letters to let her type a copy of them with her typewriter. When she was done she would send those letters back to the cousin and he would then send her more letters to copy. Mom had saved those re-typed letters for over 25 years. She gave those letters to me.
As word spread in the family that I was working on Grandpas book my Uncle informed me that he had letters that Grandpa (his Dad) had written to him while he was serving a mission in Taiwan for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that his kids were actually finishing typing them up on the computer! He also told that he had Grandpa's photo album from the mission that he had served in Mexico. I was so excited! On my next trip cross country to visit family my uncle and I got together. I brought my laptop and bought a small portable document scanner so I could scan all the photos that he had. His kids emailed me the file of all the letters too. During this same trip I visited my Grandma. She had keep many of Grandpas journals, documents, certificates and trinkets. I scanned everything and took photos of the trinkets. learned Grandpa was interested in family history. He had actually filled out and written many personal histories! So I was able to include first hand stories written by Grandpa!
I was able to complete Grandpas book in a little over a year. It was also printed as a 110 page photo book from Shutterfly.com. It's a beautiful book containing some of my Grandpa's history.
I am honored that I was able to assemble histories and photos that miraculously made their way to me. Through making my Grandpas book I got to know him a the man that he is. Before this book I didn't know him. I was only 6 months old when he passed away. I now KNOW my Grandpa. The experience to putting together his book is a priceless one that I am truly grateful for!
