In Honor of Veteran's Day

I thought I would honor a veteran that I had the privilege of knowing by sharing a few short stories. Donald Robert Wieland served in World War II and was my grandpa. I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with such a fun-loving, adventurous and truly authentic man to spend so much of my childhood with. Here are a few of my favorite memories.

He and I once drove a golf cart through the small town of Blue Hill, Ne just to get ice cream at the local "drive-in". We later tried to make that same cart go up a really steep hill on the golf course - a stunt we would not conquer.

My grandpa was a dentist and I remember many times making jewelry out of the silver he used for fillings. I also have several plaster molds of my hands from various ages; he actually made one into a nightlight. I still have all of them. It was fun to sit in his chair without being a patient. I should mention though that he did manage to pull out many of my teeth without my even knowing it. I would worry and avoid him if I had a loose tooth, knowing that he would "just want to look at it". I would lean in and open my mouth and it was already over. He was that good.

He taught me how to drive on the dirt roads north of Grand Island. He would say, "Let's go for a drive", and I always knew that meant a lesson for me.

At Christmas, he always made up games for the whole family to play. My favorite was the "balloon game". He would blow up balloons of all colors and sizes and fill them with coins or clues or directions. They would be hanging from the ceiling and you had to pop them to see what you got. It was really funny when the adults had to do crazy things like dance or answer a tough question. I remember laughing so hard every year!

We both loved hot beef sandwiches (I still do) and it seemed like whenever we went out to a restaurant together, that's what we both got. The Ok Cafe in Hastings was one of our favorite places. The one difference being he would drown his with ketchup, as he did most things, and I preferred mine just the way it came!

I think I learned to love and appreciate nature from him and am so grateful for the time we got to spend "exploring" I think of him whenever I cross a river or see hunters in the Fall.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!