the best place in indiana

Growing up in "the best place in Indiana"

I was five when we moved. I remember moving into what we called the little house. And that's exactly what it was, it was a small little house. It was white, and attached to it was a larger house that my great grandfather lived in. The little house didn't have enough bedrooms for my brother, my parents, and I so while our kitchen, our bathroom, our formal living room, and our TV room, as well as a small upstairs play area were in the little house, our bedrooms were in the larger house with my great grandfather. I can't imagine growing up anywhere else. My great grandpas bedrooms downstairs and my parents my brothers and my bedroom were upstairs. My brother and I shared a room and closet growing up and my parents bedroom was attached to ours by a single door. It might have been a small house which may not be ideal for many families but I can't imagine growing up anywhere else. You see, living in that little house taught me so much. And while the house taught me so much, the man that was born in that house taught me much more. 


My great grandpa was a man of faith, family, support, love, and most importantly a man of God. Every time I walked into his house and into the kitchen he thanked me for coming. My brother and I often ate breakfast with him, and lunch as well, in summer. He often had Honey nut Cheerios for almost every meal. There are so many specific details that  I remember about my great grandpa, its hard to choose a few for this. 


Each specific detail made an impact on my life. Each specific detail taught me something. My great grandpa read his Bible every single night out loud and I can remember sitting before I went to bed listening to him read it. He also read it at lunch and in the morning. And when he went to bed he prayed and you could hear him from our bedrooms. Growing up I took gymnastics and I would practice cart wheels in his living room. After every single cart wheel he always Clapped and cheered me on. It meant the world to a little girl trying to be good at something. And I remember He would sit in his chair and watch the squirrels in the tree in front of his window. It was things so simple to me but he made them meaningful.


At the age of five my parents let me get my own pet, I got a cat and her name was dancer. Dancer lived in grandpa's house with us. She's soon not only became my best friend but his as well. 


When my grandma came to give him lunch or go out to lunch with him, my brother and I would ride in his Oldsmobile car with them and they would take us through the drive-through of McDonald's for lunch, my brother and I would get our food and then my grandma, grandpa, and great grandpa would go get their lunch. It wasn't just a car ride with him it was more than that. 
    
He also had these pillows on his couch that had real feathers and then and I can remember my brother and I plucking them out. And as kids whenever my brother and I found treasures outside, such as worms are butterflies we always ran into show grandpa Dean our treasures.  


You see, I was named after his wife, Sarah Elizabeth. And he never ever forgot my name even when he grew very old, he always knew who I was. After many years of Sharing a home with him, we decided to build our own house next to his and tear down the little house. Growing up I began to get busy with school and sports and I didn't see him as much, but I always made my best effort to go see him next door. And every time we drove up our Long lane driveway you could always see my great grandpa in his chair waving at us no matter what time of day. He had the greatest stories to tell. But my favorite is when he told me that we live in the best place in Indiana. The farm. When we moved into our new house next-door, we decided to let the cat stay with grandpa. He loved her so much, and she loved him, even though she scratched him sometimes. He would feed her so many treats and he even cut them up for her. She was spoiled rotten and that showed. And even though she scratched him sometimes he loved her anyway. Two peas in a pod, Dean and Dancer. 


My great grandpa grew to be very old. He made it in his 100s. But one of my favorite last memories of him is sharing something that we both had in common. We both held a key to the city of Nappanee. It was a special moment to share with him.


I love my great grandpa. He was the greatest man I've ever met. He was so full of love for the Lord. He had the best stories. He was the greatest cheerleader. The best cat treat feeder. And the best great Grandpa I could've ever been given. I'm so grateful.  


I am blessed to have grown up with a great grandpa and grown up at the best place in Indiana.  And every time I go past his grave I blink my lights like we did when he waved to us as we drove up the lane because I know he is waving back at me from heaven. 


I could tell you many more things I loved about him but if you have a great grandparent, take an hour or more out of your day and go talk to them, ask them to tell you stories, because they truly are the best stories.