Ode to Bumpa

This week was Bumpa's birthday.  Bumpa was the name Ray's Dad was given instead of Grandpa.  Big Ray was a legend, whose heart was larger than life. 
It has been almost 7 years since the Jensen family lost our patriarch. 
How often I have thought of him since his death.  Even when my family had a trip to the Mall of America, the last shop we went to was the Minnesota shop and there was a bag of gummi-worms, which Bumpa always handed out to the grandchildren.  I took pictures of the girls eating them, when things like that happen it's like receiving approval from Heaven.

We think of him and talk about him almost everyday.
There was hardly enough room, in a room, for his giant personality. I remember the twinkle in his eye and his great big smile.  I feel privileged to have known him for 8 short years The easy things to talk about; the many family trips to Canada. Bumpa always made sure everyone was included.  I remember new born Jensen babies, in boats with life preservers on them.    Bumpa made sure the smallest to the oldest were invited and showed up and that is what made those trips so special. 

There were many "Bumpa-isms", he always let the grandkids help to cook bacon.  He always had the littlest babies sleep on his chest.  He always had gummi-worms in his church blazer breast pocket.  For a hug and a kiss on the cheek the grandchildren could snuggle up for some treats during Church.  No wonder Jensen children have fond memories of Church.
He loved to cook.  He would cook for his whole Church and his whole family.  He ran his kitchen like a well-oiled machine.  Clean and  effecient.  Perfect.  Just like his lasagna. 

 I was thrilled to be accepted as a part of the family by him.  His blessing meant something.  I was even more thrilled to be twirlled around by him on the dancefloor at our wedding.  He was an amazing dancer!  He always teased me about being a picky steak eater.  He would find the best pieces of steak he could muster, and he mustered some really good steak, but I could never eat all of it.  And he always teased me about it.  But being teased by Bumpa was like the biggest compliment you could get. 

Ray is sometimes sad that Bumpa died five short months before Leah was born.  Ray's children are the only grandchildren Bumpa never met.  But then something sad, yet prophetic happened.  It came to pass that one of Bumpa's grandchildren was called home to Jesus.  So in a way, Bumpa does get be with and know at least one of Ray's children intimately.  It makes me really happy to picture Thor up there with his Bumpa.  I feel they are fishing, making bacon and lasagna up there.  Bumpa is teaching him to fillet a fish, pack a van for a Canada trip, how to play cards.  Bumpa is letting him sneak gummi-worms from his pocket, and letting Thor take long naps on his chest.  And this is why, every night when we say our good night prayers we say, thank you Jesus, for our Special Angels in Heaven. And they are so special.