with a heavy heart.

We found out on Christmas eve my great grandfather has lung cancer. 

They drained the fluids in his lungs - two liters - and he went home. The doctors said it was probably his last Christmas. 

Yesterday evening they went back again - this time there was 2.5 liters of fluid. 

My heart is heavy. This is the only great grandfather I've ever gotten to know - he's the grandfather my mother grew up with. The one who has always been in my life. He's a WWII war hero. He's a father, a grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend. 

But I am faced with this reality: when he passes, he's not going someplace terrible. He's not going to be in more pain. He's going home. 

Home to his Maker. His lover. His friend. He's going home to his king. 

We went down to visit him yesterday - and it was so lovely to see him. I wanted to share some pictures of our visit with you. 

We didn't spend long there, as he was tired, and in need of rest. But it was lovely all the same. 

He was in the airforce in WWII - his plane was shot down after a bombing raid and went missing to the US forces. They marked him as MIA. He spent the next 7 weeks making a journey that now takes only 6 hours by train - all on foot. This fall my uncle Jim and his two sons retraced his entire journey. The whole story is HERE. I encourage you to read it - it's an incredible story.

Anyway. My aunt Carolyn had a book made of the journey - and I asked him to show it to me. His eyes lit up and my grandfather was back while he told me for the millionth time of his war journey. I am amazed every time I hear it though. That's my grandpa. 

My grandmother spent those seven weeks in agony. They weren't married yet. They were only sweethearts. When my grandmother received the telegram from my grandpa that he was "on my way home, darling", my grandmother describes that moment to be just indescribable. I can't even imagine.

My grandma still has the telegram. 

In short, this post is written with a heavy heart. A sad heart, but a glad heart. I am praising God for the time I've spent with my grandpa, and the things he's done in his time. I know his passing will be soon, and I've already decided I'm singing this at his funeral. 

I know some of you may think I'm dooming myself by already planning something like this for something so sad. But I beg to differ. He knows he's dying. The whole family does. And we all want him to just go home. His pain will be gone there and his joy will be forever.