Papaw, this one is for YOU

Today, in doing Meals on Wheels, we were blessed with some SWEET time with Papaw (aka Henry Beckham III) - the sweetest man with the twinkle in his eye.  Today as we arrived to pick up our meals, we noticed everyone on our list was grayed out except for papaw (grayed out means they don't want a meal that day) - papaw has been VERY sick….his health has gone down leaps and bounds - i actually haven't seen him in over a month because he's either been in the hospital or the last time i was there, he was sick in bed and so sick he couldn't raise his head.  He's 91…..i have been sooooo worried about papaw.  But today, we got the sweetest surprise!

Altho

He's still very weak, he insisted on standing up for a big long hug and since we had nobody else on our list this day, we got to visit for over an hour with papaw!  His daughter was there and we got to hear stories about growing up and what a little stinker papaw was in his youth!  We told some stories too and this one about Avery Grace - he wanted me to write down…..sweet papaw wants to keep it so he can read it over and over.  The story made him laugh so hard….LOVE to see joy well up in him. Sooooo, here's the story:

Shawn and Avery were shopping at Whole Foods and Shawn said not to ask him why, it was too long of a story, but he and Avery were having a deep discussion about the Branch Davidians….Shawn said all of a sudden, Avery looks him in the eye and says "daddy, i want to know the TRUTH" - Shawn is taken aback and wondering what in the world is coming and she tells him again "Daddy, i want to know the TRUTH.  Is Santa Claus real?" - the question has come up many times lately, even with me.  I just quickly changed the subject and Shawn and Deb have done the same thing….but this time was different….."Daddy, my friends have been talking and i want to know the REAL truth.  I don't want to be made fun of.  Daddy, IS SANTA CLAUS REAL??????" - Shawn looks her straight in the eye and says "Avery, are you sure you want to know the REAL truth?"  "Yes daddy….please tell me for REAL" - Shawn looks at her and shakes his head no…..she ducks her head and then looks back at him "The Easter Bunny?" - again, Shawn shakes his head no.  Avery questions again "The tooth fairy?" - shaking his head again she takes one last stab at it "okay, the birthday fairy????"  The birthday fairy was a story made up by her momma and daddy ever since she was a little bitty girl….outside her room there was a huge tree, and every August, the fireflies were everywhere in that tree and those were actually birthday fairies coming to announce Avery Birthday on August 29th.  SURELY the birthday fairies were REAL… but Shawn slowly shakes his head no.  Avery bows her head low….and then looks back at Shawn and says "oh my, it seems my whole life has been a LIE!"  Then she looks at Shawn and says "i am NOT telling mom" - he thinks she's saying this because Avery thinks it will break her momma's heart that she now knows the truth….but no, she finishes "i am NOT telling mom!" - and after a few seconds she tells him " YOU ARE!" 

Oh where has the time gone?  She's growing up way too fast.  

Love you to the moon and back sweet Avery Grace!