Papaw has been enjoying the wonders of heaven for over a year now, though in that beautiful place, there is no time.  My finite mind cannot quite understand how or where heaven must be, but knowing that Papaw lives on there makes it more real to me.  Rarely does a day pass that I do not think about him.  I know that if there is a way for those in heaven to draw us that way, Papaw would do it for his family members.  My purpose is to make it there someday and see his smile and hear his laugh once again. 

Papaw loved to laugh; everyone who knew him says they miss his laugh.  I can remember him laughing at things we grandkids did and he had lots of laughs with his coworkers at Amonate Coal co.  He would come home and tell stories of the pranks they played on each other.  I can still hear that big belly laugh when I think about him.  I can only imagine how he is chuckling and laughing as he meets and greets all those in Heaven!  I know he is reminiscing and laughing with those he knew on earth, and he is enjoying getting to know those he didn't know on earth.  They are laughing together around the throne!

Papaw was always fixing something, whether an oil furnace or something broken at home.  He  would not hesitate to get out of bed in the middle of the night to repair someone's furnace, nor would Christmas dinner stop him.  "They don't have any heat" he would say, and off he would go. 

Papaw's heart was a heart of gold--giving was his greatest delight. He loved to give his garden produce to anyone who needed or wanted it. He received so much joy from giving--truly he lived the Golden Rule.   He freely gave of his time and energy to those around him; he would have sacrificed it all for his family, and, in many ways, he did.