In Memory of Lloyd A. Hottel, My Pop

Wow, this has been a tough few months, I just wrote one of these back in November when Grandpa Snyder passed away. It's interesting how so many life-changing events take place all at once. Thank the Lord that I'm not alone in this -- God is mighty to comfort, gentle in the way that He brings peace, and how His Holy Spirit whispers sweet words of truth when we don't know what end is up!

For those of you that have been following this blog, you know that Pop has been battling infection and pneumonia for the past month and has battled Alzheimer's for the past 4+ years. (What a terrible disease that is!!! To think that every ounce of brainpower that someone acquires throughout a lifetime can be taken way in the matter of a few years ... and just leaves them helpless! For any of you that have seen this terrible disease, my heart goes out to you! Let's pray for a cure!)

After a long hard road, Pop ended his battle Friday morning, February 27. The nurses called my Dad to let him know that the end was near and he was able to have Grandma head over to the hospital before he passed. (Dad was in Atlanta at the time.) She got there in just enough time to sit by his side, hold his hand and comfort him before his heart stopped. What a blessing ... that after 58 years of marriage, she was able to be with him for his last few moments. But thank the Lord that he went as he did and Dad and Grandma didn't have to make any decisions about whether or not to "pull the plug." And now, Pop no longer has to live in constant confusion and pain!

At 90, Pop lived a good life. He was married to a wonderful woman that we affectionately know as Grandma Franny -- some of which call her Fanny, he he he. (He "picked her up" in a restaurant where she worked when she first came to this country from Yugoslavia ... she worked there to learn English.) He served in WWII and raised a great son, who later became my Dad, and drove many miles of road with Greyhound bus -- boy did he love to drive! He later became my "Pop" and affectionately called me his "Peashy." (I'm not sure what that means, but that's what he called me :). And to this day, I'll never think of the Little Debbie Nutty Bars the same because of him. That was his favorite cookie and for some reason, even though I could read, I always thought they were called "Pop's cookies." It must have been their "secret" name that only Pop and I knew. My friends growing up never knew what I was talking about and I would be like, "You know, Pop's cookies," and they'd be like, "um, Nutty Bars?" I just thought THEY were confused.

Thanks Pop, I'll always hold Nutty Bars close to my heart :). I love you Pop, you will be missed!!

A memorial service will be held for him on Wednesday in Cleveland. We're all heading up to Ohio tomorrow. (This will be Caedmon's 2nd plane trip.) Pop will then be buried at the National Cemetary in Marietta, GA, close to my Dad and where Grandma will be living in 2 weeks.