How to Survive November 2025 | 23

Today is a reminder, of my Granpa G. He was quite a man, a hard working husband, grandpa and father, who always made time for all of us. He had a health scare before this, however today was his fate. His return to heaven.

The night before, we went to visit, he was sleeping peacefully so I didn’t want to bother him. There is a wonder in my heart, had I went in and held his hand, or tried to talk to him, if I could have had that one more moment. However that is heavy what if. Something its important to let go of as I remember his passing 20 years ago.

Grief can feel so multilevel. As a couple months prior we lost my dads best friend and a year prior to that my (at the time) future mother in law passed, just a few months before our wedding. Our hearts were still deeply healing and not ready for more change.

A loss, for granpa, we knew was coming, knew we had been given extra time, but still hit hard. The loss of a close relationship. My granpa. I am also able to see today as a reminder of the relationship I had with my granpa, with me, with my siblings, cousins and grandma. The wonderful memories, yes our time was cut short, however the memories we had together, were so full!

Granpa also was very intuitive, he seemed to know. He showed us, without even showing us, that you need to trust yourself. Before passing, before getting really sick, he had made arrangements for a move, so that if/when something happened Grandma wouldn’t be burdened with the “stuff” he did, yes even though she would have all of us – and there is a lot of us! The day they got the keys for the apartment, he passed, very early that morning. I’ll never forget that day, as after being with everyone early at mom and dads, helping with Grandma’s move, I also had to go to a fertility treatment, for another failed month. It wasn’t long after this, I clearly heard to trust … and it did work.

My post isn’t all sadness, Granpa taught us all alot! I am truly grateful for my time with him, growing up I spent a lot of time with he and my grandma. Its fitting for todays round image be the balls of round snow on the hydrangea tree balls of petals. Granpa loved gardening.

When ever I am in the garden, and I begin to feel the frustration setting in, its him who I will talk to, ok Granpa give me the tips, how can this flow better for me, whats the best way, should I just take a break!? He knew his plants and loved his gardens. I am grateful my mom and aunt have gotten a piece of his green thumb as they designed and constructed our gardens. Deep gratitude!

I personally, would rather just photograph the beautiful plants, even weeds, the friendly bugs, birds, bees and various seasons 😉

The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!