Well Done, Grandpa Riffel

My sweet Grandpa Riffel entered into His Savior's arms Sept. 16th, 2015. I am sure he heard the words "Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant."  While we deeply miss him here on earth, we are so thankful he is with His Savior that he loved and served.  . We just have so many wonderful memories him.

From a little girl, my grandpa called me "Renae". He was the only one that called me Renae (That is my middle name.). So special. He loved all of us grandkids and was such a fun grandpa. More importantly, he prayed for us and showed us Jesus in his life.  His life characterized the verses Jesus quoted when asked what is the greatest commandment.  Grandpa loved the Lord with ALL his heart, soul, and mind. He also loved his neighbor as himself.  He passionately served the Lord his whole life and his faith was strong until the end.  

He was such an example to us. He LOVED working in Awana and worked many years.  (He even worked in our Awana at RHBC listening to Sparkies say verses.  How special that Megan got to say verses to him!).  He loved kids so much and even ran the bus route many many years picking up kids for Awana in Salina.  He loved being in the Lord's house and was very faithful in church and in serving in his church.  His favorite song was "Trust and Obey".  That is a song was so true in his life. He trusted and obeyed God and lived a life that was happy in Jesus.  He was so thankful and content even through the last couple of years of his life when he was often in pain.  He was faithful in reading his Bible and praying.  The list could go on and on. 

I will always remember him spending time with my siblings growing up.  We got to see Grandpa and Grandma often.   He played games with us and played with us outside. He would make us home made ice cream which we loved! I remember he raced me around the block one time when I was probably in 5th grade. I am guessing he beat me:) I remember one time he pulled some of us Varner kids around the table in Alabama to encourage us with our attitudes. He was always encouraging us to please the Lord.  

Not only was he a big part in my life growing up, but he was a big part in Tim's life and my kids lives.   We had the privilege of seeing them quite often in the last 7 years we have lived here in Kansas with the last two of them being our backyard neighbors.  He loved my kids SO much, and my kids had such a wonderful relationship with him. He was able to see each of my kids as babies which was special. I hope at least the girls can remember him. He read books to my kids, watched movies with them, played school with them, listened to their many words, and gave them many, many smiles!  We saw him almost every day. It can't get better than that!  My kids loved going to visit him and brought some life and noise to his quiet house!  My kids often sang to Grandpa which Grandpa always enjoyed.    

I could go on and on with the memories. So thankful for him. I have to share a few pictures of him that are special to me.

My grandparents at our wedding. The more Grandpa got to know Tim, the more he would tell me what a wonderful husband he was.  Grandpa knew a good guy when he saw one!  We had them over in VA when they visited, and Grandpa thought it was great that Tim helped me do the dishes.  

My grandparents came down to visit me after we had Megan.  They came and visited after each of my kids were born.  

A perfect picture of my grandpa...playing with Megan.

 Megan had many memories with Grandpa. One of her favorites included going over to his house when he lived behind us, and playing school with him. Grandpa was her teacher. After she would get home from kindergarten, she would sometimes ask if she could do school with Grandpa. Grandpa was such a good sport and made school so much fun for her! She told me also she loved seeing Grandpa go to church and helping him.    

Grandpa with Emily as a baby.  

Love this picture of Grandpa and Emily.  The girls loved sitting by Grandpa in church. Emily just snuggled right up to Grandpa this service and fell asleep. Emily's favorite memories with Grandpa were when he shared his peanuts with her.  (Grandpa always was ready to get the girls a snack when we visited him.  Of course, the girls always enjoyed that!).  She also loved it when he read them books.

Grandpa with Anna

  

Love this picture as well...Anna always loved going over to visit Grandpa and Grandma as well.  Her famous words to Grandpa were "I need a mint!". Grandpa would ask her how to say it nicely. Anna would nicely ask for a mint, and Grandpa would always say, yes, you can have a mint.  Anna would often ask Grandpa to read her a book. Her favorite book Grandpa read to her was Jonah and the Whale.  She would just crawl up on his lap while he read.  

Grandpa with Timothy

While Timothy was just 1 year old when Grandpa passed away, I still love the fact that Timothy will point to a picture of Grandpa and know exactly who it is.  Timothy brought the biggest smile to Grandpa's face when Grandpa saw him. Grandpa would always tell me that Timothy was SO sweet.  I know Timothy won't "remember" Grandpa, I hope that we will always have a picture around of him so he will at least know him by seeing his picture.  

We prayed for Grandpa often.  One day when he was not feeling well, my girls got together some gifts for him to feel better.  It included a teddy bear, a hat, books, a blanket, etc.  I am not sure how much better it made him feel, but I know he loved seeing the girls and their thoughtfulness.  My girls loved their Great-grandpa.

My girls enjoyed singing to Grandpa. Here was are visiting him in rehab, and they are singing to him before we leave. He loved listening to their singing and would sing with them sometimes.

My grandpa would come over and sit in our backyard and watch the kids play.  I am so thankful that they were our backyard neighbors.  God worked it out perfectly.  I remember when Grandpa was putting an offer on the house. He had prayed and had peace with how much he was willing to go.  He felt like if it was God's will, he would get the price for that exact amount.  And sure enough, God clearly showed him his will by allowing him to get the for the amount he felt like he should go.  Just another example of how he trusted the Lord and obeyed what he felt the Lord would want him to do.  

My girls all remember when Grandpa would have them over to watch Charlotte's Web with them.  They would watch a little at a time.  These are memories that won't be forgotten!

My wonderful grandparents.  Grandpa was a wonderful husband to my grandma.  Their marriage exemplified Christ and the church.  So thankful for their example.

Grandpa,  we sure do miss you here on earth, but you have left a legacy with us in how to love the Lord and serve Him. We will see you one day again in heaven. We are very thankful for that!