All Souls day

It is so strange to me. I went to church today, and they talked about all souls day. Remembering those that have passed within the past year. We were each given a card to write their name on, and they were read off during a prayer. I wrote my Grandfather's name down. My grandfather and I had a spotty relationship while I was growing up. I lived next door to him. He had a hard time showing affection in someway's, but you always knew he loved you. He was a jokester, and at his funeral many people told stories about him, and things came up that I never knew about him. Grandpa was the type of guy that didn't talk a ton, he didn't say what was on his mind a lot. He did however have some opinions that I disagreed with. This is what worried me when I had a child with Down Syndrome. I assumed that he would disown me. Because my child was different. Grandpa lived in the country, and he really was kind of sheltered. However when I brought my little girl to see him, who was about 4 months old, and had recently had heart surgery he just looked at her with such love. He was amazed at her strength. He was proud of her when she would do the hand motions to wheels on the bus. He was beaming when she learned to walk. Whenever I talked to him on the phone his first words out of his mouth were how is that great granddaughter of mine?? He accepted her fully, and I am thrilled with that. In his last few years on earth Grandpa and I had some conversations that made me reevaluate who he was. I didn't realize growing up how important his family and kids were to him. I know that there were the yearly parties that everyone attended, the holidays were a huge gathering when I was younger. I guess I took this for granted. My husband did not come from a large family. His family does live close by, however we don't visit them as often as we should. They hard a hard time accepting my daughter when she was diagnosed with DS. I know that they accept her now, and are thrilled with all her progress, however part of me is still hurt by the initial things of unacceptence. I don't know, I guess it may boil down to education, they both are very educated people, and maybe having a grandchild who is mentally handicapped is hard for them, maybe that's why my grandfather was so accepting. He graduated from the 3rd grade, and then went to work. Grandpa always stressed to us that we needed to go to college. He didn't make it well known that he only finished the 3rd grade. I found out after I got my Bachlors degree. Guess I am rambling now. Back to the point.....
I wrote down Grandpa's name. I loved him dearly, and do miss him greatly. Here's to you Grandpa, may you finally be in peace. I love you!