Last week, my grandfather passed away. Grandpa went to Heaven on March 2, exactly a
month to the day after Grandma, who went to be with Jesus February 2.

It's been a long and hard road for the both of them, and
especially those who walked close with them in their final days. Thanks to all
of the Rush family who has been there every step of the way during this time. I
can't help but feel a bit guilty not being at home in California to support my family, especially
my dad.

My grandparents were some of the most loving and generous
people I ever knew. They have been nothing but supportive to each of their
children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. They loved to travel. They have been around
the world and to countless countries.

Some of my favourite memories are the
cruises that we took with them. I can remember just how fun it was to be so
"grown up" hanging out with my older cousins who chartered me around as if I
was the most important person to them. I can still remember seeing my
Grandparents walking hand and hand on the decks of the cruise ships.

In my 24 years, I have only missed a handful of Christmas's
at the "Pa's". Christmas was such a tradition in our family that we would very
rarely miss. And to anyone who argues that Christmas Eve isn't really
Christmas, they are sincerely mistaken. Christmas Eve at the Grandparents house
IS Christmas. We always had a nice big Christmas dinner, complete with carols,
and opening packages. The tree never changed in all my years, and I'm sure it
was the same tree even before I was born. Many of us would sleep over and
awaken to our "Santa gifts," which were normally a very random array of things,
but nonetheless, this was tradition. My family would generally stay until just
after Christmas brunch, and then head home.

Grandma and Grandpa came to Africa
in 1983(?) I believe. They traveled through Kenya
as well as South Africa
and possibly other countries. This would have been two years before I was born,
and they could still remember every detail. This is no surprise, though. Anyone
who knew them would tell you that they would never forget anyone they met or a
place they had been. I remember speaking about Africa with them, and it was one
of the last conversations face to face with G&G just before I left to come
back to South Africa.

I know I'm leaving out so much. They lived such full lives;
there would be no way to capture all of the memories and how much they meant to
me. Grandma went quite suddenly, but Grandpa was a fighter and, as my dad
mentioned, kept a smile on his face until the very end. They both would have
turned 90 this year. Incredible. They were soul mates on earth, and they are
together again to worship the King forever.