Dear Grandpa,

Unforunately the only pictures I have with you are from when I was little.

I miss you, everyday.

It's been 9 years now but I still feel like it was yesterday.

I still doesn't even feel real that your really gone as weird as that sounds.

You taught me so much and some days I feel you near.

Thanks for coming to my championship basketball game my senior year, I know you were always at every sporting event, dance recital, piano recital, band performances, and definitely at my graduation.

I know it was never easy for you to come sit through my softball/basketball games when I was little because of your health and well, who can sit for 1.5 hours on a wood bench?

But don't think that I took it for granted or didn't notice.

I did.

I still remember that flower bouquet you got me after one of my dance recitals when I was around 7 or 8.

Your the best.

Even when cancer hit you not once but two times, you never complained.

In fact, I didn't even know about the first time until years later because you are the toughest grandpa and put everyone first.

You will always be my hero.

You taught me what it means to be a friend, a teammate, a comrad, and just a good person.

You are purest form of giving and didn't accept anything back, you sacrificed a lot and overcome more to make us a forever family, you treated Grandma with the upmost respect and care, you are the foundation to our support system.

You also made a bigger sacrifice than I'll probably ever make, you served our country.

I've always been proud of that and will be forever proud of that.

I'm sorry that you had to see/experience the things you did over there. I know there are so many stories that you wouldn't tell us but it was probably a good thing. Thank you for protecting us.

I'm trying to be better.

I'm trying to be the best example of what it is to be a Hardman.

I'm proud to be part of your family and how grateful I am to be your granddaughter.

Your blood still runs through my veins and your in my heart.

Thank you for watching over me.

I love you, Grandpa.