Welcome to the Blog dedicated to the Life and Times of Frank and Betty Sanders. I started this blog so that people could share all the great stories and memories they have of my grandparents. Whether it a long story or just one line, don’t hesitate to comment below or just read the comments. I am sure all of us who know them would love to hear about all the great memories you can share about them. I know i have many great memories, and my goal is to not forget any of them by writing them down. Hopefully you can do the same. Just simply leave a short or long comment below of what you have to share! If you have any suggestions for this page such as a much more flattering picture, categories, or any other creative ideas, please let me know. Also, i would love to see other pictures of anything related to their lives! If you have any new or old pictures you want me to post, just send them my way at joltinjoe22@hotmail.com .
Thanks to Joe for setting this up. I hope we can just write, remember, and enjoy some great times with the family. I want to say I did not find it odd that Papa always ate his cake in a glass with milk on it. I do that too and don’t think a thing about it, especially chocolate cake. Yum! Sandy Gunter
Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.
This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let’s continue to pray for one another.
The prayer:
Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Juanita sent this to me and I wanted to share with everyone. Love to all
Grammy and Papa ALWAYS made me (and makes me) feel so welcome when I would come into their home. The first question is always, “Well Juanita what are you doing here? Are you hungary.” Just imagine it in Grammy’s one of a kind voice:) Last Christmas I brought my son Luke to their house. Papa played with him like he was his own grandchild. Papa kept trying to get him to sit on his lap. But Luke was too busy entertaining everyone. It’s very rare to look at someone and be able to tell that they genuinely care about everyone around them. I always loved going to their house. I knew somehow, it would be entertaining in some way, shape or form. And I loved most all, seeing that after all their years of marriage, Grammy and Papa were still in love with each other. They were still best friends. My favorite most recent story of Grammy was at Papa’s funeral. She saw me and said “Well Juanita, how did you get here?” It was the cutest thing ever. I told her I rode my bike. I wish I could’ve known Papa on the level everyone else did. But I’m glad that God allowed him and Grammy to walk into my life. They’re both so special. My prayers go out to your whole family, especially Grammy.
Grammy’s story telling last monday while we were all gathered at her house was a riot. She was telling my kokomo friends about a boy who used to follow her around named Peanuts Breeding….and how she would have help from her friends to avoid him at all the of dances at school. Poor guy!
This was just shortly after the funeral, and I knew at this point that Grammy would do pretty good from here on out.
I personally will never forget Papa’s red, leather “Christmas pants” that I’m sure they got at either Goodwill or Marshall Fields (Grammy’s code word for garage sale
). Papa also always used to put peanuts in his 7-Up or his orange juice. That’s one I’ve never seen anybody else do!
I always loved hearing Grammy’s version of Papa’s Navy stories how he’d never shot a gun before, almost drown in training when they were instructed to make floatation devices out of their pants, and when he rolled the Captain out of his bunk on the ship by steering the ship too sharply. Papa would always smile when Grammy would share the stories from her perspective.
I will sure miss Grammy telling Papa, “Straighten up, father,” when she wanted him to stand up straight and not hunched over. My roommate Amy used to joke that she could almost hear Papa creek as he would slowly become more upright.
Haha, i forgot about her telling him to straighten up. Hearing the navy stories are always some of my favorite stories, trying to imagine what Papa and grammy were like back then.
I always thought that my uncle gerry gave papa those red leather pants? But maybe i only thought that because uncle gerry had a pair of his own! Might need to look into that.
I love all of your comments. What a wonderful prayer! I received so many nice cards and hugs from people here at school that have helped me. Grammy was busy with people and calls on Monday, the 14th. She seems to be doing well, but I think a little lonely, at times. Be sure to call her. Papa, I’m sure, loved the fact that we were all together on the 7th. He wanted us to be a close family and I really think we are, even if there are miles between us. I feel like if we need something, we can call on each other to help and that is important. He always wanted to know if he could help. I miss him. Hugs! sg
Hi! I am staying with Grammy tonight since we are supposed to get bad weather and I have to be at school before 8:00 tomorrow morning. I just wanted to say, I have read a few items about death recently and I ran across an interesting thought. It was about losing a parent and how the age of the parent does not diminish the loss to the family left behind. I have often found myself thinking about the age of someone who has died and saying he/she had a good long life, etc. I now understand why it is still difficult, no matter what the age. We who knew Dad or Papa for a long time, lost the person we knew as a younger person who functioned as we do now. We did not lose an old man, we lost the person who gave us those wonderful memories of how he was in the prime of his life. I also have learned that the person who is feeling like death will be soon (weeks or months), tries to break away from the loved ones by being more distant and not wanting to get too involved. The sad part, we didn’t know that was one way of saying good-bye, without leaving. I miss him. Hugs to all!! A S
I remember the time in florida when i accidentally broke one of the outside yard lights at the Lehigh house. I was afraid to tell papa for fear of making him mad, so i went on a long bike ride. Sure enough, when i got back, he asked me if i knew what happened and i told him no. He could tell i was lying, and talked me into telling the truth. He told me he didn’t care that i broke it, but he cared that i lied about it. It was a lesson learned!
Cracker Barrel
I remember when we (the grandkids) made dinner for Grammy and Papa and their friends. We made a HUGE salad, spaghetti, garlic bread, etc. I think that between all of the things that we made, we probably just used almost all of the groceries Grammy bought for the week!!!!
I remember listening to Cubs games on the way down to Florida on various AM stations that crackled so bad I’m not sure how Papa could make out what the annoucers were saying. I’d always ask him if we could change the station, but he’d swear that he could understand them and that “No” we couldn’t change it.
I remember going to Florida with Gwen, Joe and Casey and Casey talking to Grammy and Papa about watching the movie “American Pie.” I still haven’t forgiven Casey for what followed…
Oh dear…Just the other day I was thinking abouth the 50th wedding celebration we put on for Grammy and PaPa. Joe played PaPa of course and I played Grammy of course. That was so much fun now that I look back on it. Not so fun at the time
The next time we get together we should view that video.
Also, I was thinking about the time that Cleen kicked Papa due to a large wave in the boat. She got him right where it counted.
I hope everyone keeps sharing!!!
This is awesome I just re-read the comments and let’s just keep it going. I love number 8 by my mom. I have always hated it when people say, “Well, he lived a good long life.” It doesn’t take way the fact that I feel he left too early. No amount of time is ever enough when you have someone like PaPa in your life. It is just never enough. Time goes too quickly and most of the time we don’t even realize it is passing because we live day to day without thinking about it. That is why we must share memories, we must stay in contact and we must make sure we tell everyone how much we love them and how they have made a difference in our lives and maybe how we have learned something from them. without knowing that person we would have never had the opportunity to know or see different views on things. I love you all for many different reasons!!! Keep in touch
You were all pretty little, so I’m not sure if you remember this or not, but I remember when all 6 of us used to crawl on Papa and pretend we were riding on him, like he was a car. Poor Papa!
Years ago, Grammy and Papa were remodeling the old farm house and they were in the process of having an electrician re-wire it, but the electrician had other projects going on, one of them being doing some work on a local veal barn. I specifically remember Papa, none too happy, calling the electrician up and saying that he was NOT going to play “second fiddle” to veal calves!
Papa wasn’t one to get worked up too easily so I knew he must have been pretty upset to say that!
Location: Marco Island Florida
Year: 199?
Memory: We convinced PaPa to hitch an ride on the Banana Boat. The equivelant to riding a wild bull in the ocean. All of us loaded up and Grammy stayed ashore and can be heard commentating during the live video reel. Papa was a bit sore and had a few blisters to take care of after the ride.
What a ride!
I love reading all of the things that were important to you. I know you all did not like doing the little skit for the 50th, but it sure meant a lot to them and now you guys have another memory. I can still see Colleen’s big glasses as she read the script. (they were in style back then) How about all the little programs you put on for G & P in Florida? I’m not sure why we did them, but you guys were so cute! Yes, Joe, even you. You probably had your nails painted or something like that. I’m not sure if you were in too many of them, but I know the girls were. Such fun!! Hugs! A S
Thanks for that memory, Bridge. I was pretty surprised when he said he would go. I think they needed one more person and you guys talked him into going. How old was he? It seems like 77 or so. Pretty funny! His blisters were from him clutching so tightly with his heels to the banana. Hugs! A S
I remeber crawling all over PaPa honking his nose for the horn, pulling on his ears for turn signals. I can’t believe he let us do that. Also, how we used to take every cusion and blanket we could find in their florida home and build a fort or a tent in the florida room. What a mess. But it was fun.
My memory of PaPa on the banana boat ride is that we convinced him to go because we would get a discount if we had one more person go. And of course PaPa liking a good deal said he would go. Tooooooo funny.
I always enjoyed going through PaPa’s nickel boxes from auctions to see what he had brought home this time. I know Grammy enjoyed it too because most of the items seemed to make their way onto a shelf or corner or somewhere in their home.
i remember throwing the baseball with Papa even when he was in his mid 70’s. He would have the throw it underhand because of his old shoulder. I think the last time was at Hurricane house. He was pretty good underhanded, and could still catch just fine as long as i threw it right to him!
Oh the hurricane house…That is where Cleen got pooped on by the pelicans that sat in trees over the board walk out to the beach. Funny for us…not so much for her. Papa and I played tennis alot there, along with my mom and joe. He was quick and good at placing the ball so we couldn’t return it. How typical for paPa, reminds most of us of croquet
He was the best!
Everyone please keep sharing! This is really helping me with my sadness and greif. I hope it is helping you all as well.
“straighten up Father”
~Grammy
I remember that for about 15 years in a row PaPa brought the dusty slide projector and slides down from upstairs and set up his big screen for a “family” history lesson. I think he really loved to share those with us.
I am feeling like we should probably have another show sometime soon.
Bridget
We would buy Jelly Belly’s at Cracker Barrel on the way to Florida and make PaPa and Grammy eat them and guess the flavors. Did we just shove them in their mouths or just make them promise they wouldn’t look?
Bridget
Heard this song on the way to work today. Of course it got me thinking about PaPa. It’s Homesick by Mercy Me
You’re in a better place, I’ve heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I’ve rejoiced for you
But the reason why I’m broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home’s where my heart is then I’m out of place
Lord, won’t you give me strength to make it through somehow
I’ve never been more homesick than now
Help me Lord cause I don’t understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I’ll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I’m still here so far away from home
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home’s where my heart is then I’m out of place
Lord, won’t you give me strength to make it through somehow
I’ve never been more homesick than now
In Christ, there are no goodbye
And in Christ, there is no end
So I’ll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again
And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home’s where my heart is then I’m out of place
Lord, won’t you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won’t you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won’t you give me strength to make it through somehow
Even though they were really long, i always loved the car rides to and from florida with grammy and papa. Just hearing all the stories, spending quality times with them and whoever else was in the car…i think those car rides made us a closer family. I loved hearing Papa and Grammy talk about there younger days, the Navy stories, and all of there friends who i can never keep straight.
I knew that papa’s time on earth was definitely coming to an end the first time i came back from California in May of 2006. I asked him about the Cubs, and he said he hadn’t paid much attention to them. That answer really hit home with me, because normally he would always have a very strong opinion about how bad they are or which player was looking good. This time, he didn’t really seem to care. That’s when i started preparing for him to be gone.
That christmas of 06′ when i was leaving the farm, I thought for sure it was the last time i would see him alive. I couldn’t hardly stand saying goodbye and really had to fight off breaking down and crying as i left. I could feel he was thinking the same thing and i think he thought it would be the last time he saw me. Amazingly he made it another year, but after that christmas in 2006, i never really felt like it was the same Papa. Almost as if he had said his goodbye to me that christmas. I valued each time i got to spend with him after that christmas, almost as if it were overtime, because i guess i had been so prepared for him to of been gone already. I’m very glad he kept fighting, but i knew he was more than ready, and that kinda had a calming affect on me when i got the call he was on his last days.
I knew that papa’s time on earth was definitely coming to an end the first time i came back from California in May of 2006. I asked him about the Cubs, and he said he hadn’t paid much attention to them. That answer really hit home with me, because normally he would always have a very strong opinion about how bad they are or which player was looking good. This time, he didn’t really seem to care. That’s when i started preparing for him to be gone.
That christmas of 06′ when i was leaving the farm, I thought for sure it was the last time i would see him alive. I couldn’t hardly stand saying goodbye and really had to fight off breaking down and crying as i left. I could feel he was thinking the same thing and i think he thought it would be the last time he saw me. Amazingly he made it another year, but after that christmas in 2006, i never really felt like it was the same Papa. Almost as if he had said his goodbye to me that christmas. I valued each time i got to spend with him after that christmas, almost as if it were overtime, because i guess i had been so prepared for him to of been gone already. I’m very glad he kept fighting, but i knew he was more than ready, and that kinda had a calming affect on me when i got the call he was on his last days.
I remember when we were in Florida and Papa had gotten attacked by that stingray. In order to keep the grandkids from freaking out, he calmly said that he stepped on some “glass” and then had to wade through that murky disgusting water betwee the Boathouse and the gulf!!!!! He left a trail of blood that went all the way up to our room. For whatever reason I wasn’t in the inflatable boat that day and panicked when I saw the bloody path leading up to our room. I remember what a relief I felt when I knew that everyone was okay!
I’ll never forget when Papa and Grammy came and picked Gwen and I up at the elementary school in the big, long, white Buick. I saw it slowly roll by the door that we were sitting by waiting to be picked up and silently prayed that none of the other kids saw it (I’m not sure why I was so embarrassed, but hey, it was elementary school, why do those kids do or think anything they do???).
Just when I thought we were home free, one of the obnoxious boys yelled at the top of his lungs for everyone to hear, “Hey everybody look! It’s a limousine!”
That is too funny! As if your hair wasn’t embarrassing enough
Oh Bridget, you’re dead!!!!! Need I pull out a certain 2nd grade picture of yours?
Lol…I guess we’ve all had our share of embarrassing hairstyles. I’ll still never forget in Florida when we spent the LONGEST time transforming Colleen’s short hair into a mohawk before going to the mall with Grammy and Papa. Grammy took one look at Colleen’s hair and said we would NOT be going to the mall as long as Colleen’s hair looked like that. Try taming a mohawk that’s been sprayed with felt like super glue!!!!!
I remember one time when I saw Papa walking out around a couple of the outbuildings carrying a gun because there was a groundhog out there digging around the foundations. With his jeans, flannel shirt and farmer’s hat that always had a straight bill, I couldn’t help but think what a striking resemblence he bore to Elmer Fudd!
Ah, good times…
i’d really like to expand this website with more pictures of grammy and papa from their younger years, info, and even pics of the rest of the fam. Anybody have any of those oldies but goodies, send them my way!
When we all would pack in grammy and papa’s car to go to Florida and one of us would have to sit in the front seat…Did grammy feed you guys hershey’s kisses and tell you to keep it a secret? I can remeber being so full of chocolate that I did not want any dinner when we stopped at cracker barrel or shoneys
Oh Cleen..I almost forgot we took that road trip to Branson, Missouri until I saw a commercial for it. That was so much fun! We saw all of those live concerts and dancing,it was awesome.
I think it is funny that we would get big whitey tighties and decorate them for his birthday with a phrase likE, “Betty’s hot, or I Love Betty”, too funny when he would wear them with his white shorts and you could see the words painted on them in bubble paint as clear as day!!
Good morning to All!
It has been one year since Grammy and Papa moved to Warsaw. Hal and Glen sarted the process the morning of June 18th, 2007 and that night G & P slept there. Papa had a bad nose bleed that morning so it was not any easy process. Since that time, many things have changed. As we all know, nothing will ever be like the happy stories you guys have written in this blog. That is the way life is and some how we roll with the punches and go on to other things in our lives. Grammy is doing very well and sure does enjoy seeing her grandkids and great ones, too! Keep saying special prayers for our family. Love to all! Hugs! sg (sis, mom, Sandy, Aunt Sandy, Nana, or whatever you want to call me!)