Remembering grandpa Don

It has been a tough week for all of the Benhams. We lost our beloved Grandpa Don Melling this week. The hardest thing about being over here in Japan is being so far from family and loved ones. As soon as we got the news that he was in the hospital and not doing well we took immediate action to try and get back to the states as soon as possible. We were not expecting him to go so quickly after being taken off his medication and really were hoping to make it back in time to say one last final goodbye. I guess we should at least be grateful that the squadron commander is being so understanding and letting us take as much time as needed to go back for the funeral. Our 13th squadron family really have been amazing to us during this time of hurt, and they give their condolences to the entire family. So, we are headed back to the states this upcoming Tuesday. It will have been about 6 months since we have been on American soil (well me and the kids I guess since Kyle spent 2 months in Alaska) It will be nice to be with family during this time.

How grateful we are to have the gospel in our lives and the knowledge that families can be together forever! I know we will see grandpa Don again, and I know he is doing great work on the other side. He was a man of service, always doing genealogy work and trying to give back to others as much as possible. He was a wonderful example in our lives. We will always strive to be like grandpa Don.

It has been extra hard on Kyle since Kyle had a special bond with his grandparents. Ever since his senior year in high school when he lived with them he has had such a love for grandma and grandpa Melling. I think he literally wants to grow up to be just like grandpa cause he wants horses, a wood burning furnace, and to live in Burley. I told him I could do with with the wood furnace, and maybe horses later on in life, but I have to draw the line with living in Burley :). Kyle was very close to his grandpa and actually stoping in Burley before we came out here was the whole reason behind us making the long road trip from Arizona to Seattle where we flew out of. It was important to him that he got to spend some time with his grandparents and say goodbye. The saddest part of that trip back in February is both Kyle and grandpa knew that would be their final goodbye in this life. 

Kyle would kill me for posting this (so it's a good thing he doesn't read my blog hahaha) but I have only seen my husband cry 3 times in all of the almost 6 years of marriage together. And when we drove away after saying good bye to his grandparents in February, that was one of the times. I can't really put it in words, but watching Kyle and grandpa say their good byes and give their last hugs to one another back in February was almost like they knew it truly was good bye in this life.The feeling wasn't sorrow or sadness, but almost understanding and accepting. I will always remember kyle telling me through his tears as we drove away that he just knew when he looked into his grandfathers eyes he was saying, "see ya on the other side."

We are at peace knowing he is finally out of pain. We are at peace knowing he was with family when he passed. And we are at peace knowing that we will see him on the other side. What a glorious reunion it will be!

So now we are getting all prepared to head back to the states for the funeral. It will be a long and painful plane ride there and back, but worth it. Unfortunately our time back in the states will be short. We plan to fly out on Tuesdays space A flight and return the next Monday. Here's to hoping the kiddos can adjust to all the time zone changes quickly!

Since it has been so hot and muggy here, we have been trying to find any excuse to go to the few AC buildings on base. We took Abby to her friend Asher's cannon ball birthday party at the bowling alley, and it had glorious AC. Needless to say we stayed there for a while soaking as much AC as possible. Abby loved bowling! She would get so excited and thought everyone else's turn was her turn. She also was putting on quite the show for Asher who is Abby crush. Every day she asks if she can play with Asher. Asher has a mamasan come on Thursdays as well so Yoko San and Nobe San get together to let the kids play. The kids love Thursdays now, just because they know they will get to play. So I would say it's safe to say they are best friends now, it really is super cute.

It's been a low key week, but what else do you do when you are sticky and hot?! Connor continues to grow and grow. He now pulls himself up to standing position and tries to let go, yikes! He wants to so badly keep up with big sis. It think he will be faster at learning to walk than Abby was. It will be fun to get him and his cousin Lennox together this next week when we head back to the states since they are 4 months apart and haven't met yet. 

Between this trip to the states, Singapore to visit Kyle on his TDY, another trip to the states for James and Amanda's wedding in October, and Hawaii for Thanksgiving, we are going to be booked! It will be fun and exciting to travel, but I have a feeling that come December I am going to not even want to venture out of my house. We will definitely have a low key, lazy Christmas.