Dad & Mom's 60th at Nebo Nazarene fellowship hall
Their six kids with Mom & Dad at a family wedding
Dad at John's feed storeAs I'm sure my mom and siblings have also done, I am remembering our dad today. It was five years ago this afternoon that he went home to heaven leaving a big hole in the lives of mom, their children, grandchildren, gr-grandchildren, and the spouses of some of them. The children wrote or spoke remembrances of Dad at his funeral. Each one was surely just scratching the surface of memories.
Dad and Mom always attended and supported the church. When I say 'attended', I mean three times a week plus revivals unless someone was sick. We kids never thought of asking, "Are we going to church?" They were involved in the music of the church; therefore, we kids followed suit. Dad worked hard as we were growing up. He was up and out to begin the day early, but he ended the work day when we gathered around the table for supper. In the summer there was enough daylight left to have a few games of croquet in the front yard after supper. If you could beat Dad, it made your day. When it came to telling funny stories or playing harmless jokes or making funny remarks, Dad was always ready for a laugh. Many times he laughed as hard in the telling as his audience did in the hearing.
Dad loved Colorado and the mountains and vacationing there in their RV. Maybe that makes my remembering more pointed today. I'm writing this is Estes Park, CO, looking at the mountains on a really beautiful day. He would have loved coming to our condo here, I think. I can imagine him enjoying the view from the patio, visiting with some of our neighbors, taking some of the several beautiful drives around here, enjoying supper off the grill.
As much as I miss him from time to time, I would never wish him back here. Never. Dad is walking streets of gold without his cane or a stumbling step. Diabetes with all its disabling consequences has no hold on him now. He is having the best time ever just praising the Lord and 'hanging out' with our grandparents, uncles, aunts, and many others who had arrived there ahead of him. This group includes our own little Jonathan Eugene who was miscarried in March, 1987. (I still sometimes wonder what he would have been like as a young man now.) Instead of wishing Dad here, I look forward to seeing him and all the others as they will appear when I cross from this old world into that wonderful place! I love you, Dad.
Dad and Mom always attended and supported the church. When I say 'attended', I mean three times a week plus revivals unless someone was sick. We kids never thought of asking, "Are we going to church?" They were involved in the music of the church; therefore, we kids followed suit. Dad worked hard as we were growing up. He was up and out to begin the day early, but he ended the work day when we gathered around the table for supper. In the summer there was enough daylight left to have a few games of croquet in the front yard after supper. If you could beat Dad, it made your day. When it came to telling funny stories or playing harmless jokes or making funny remarks, Dad was always ready for a laugh. Many times he laughed as hard in the telling as his audience did in the hearing.
Dad loved Colorado and the mountains and vacationing there in their RV. Maybe that makes my remembering more pointed today. I'm writing this is Estes Park, CO, looking at the mountains on a really beautiful day. He would have loved coming to our condo here, I think. I can imagine him enjoying the view from the patio, visiting with some of our neighbors, taking some of the several beautiful drives around here, enjoying supper off the grill.
As much as I miss him from time to time, I would never wish him back here. Never. Dad is walking streets of gold without his cane or a stumbling step. Diabetes with all its disabling consequences has no hold on him now. He is having the best time ever just praising the Lord and 'hanging out' with our grandparents, uncles, aunts, and many others who had arrived there ahead of him. This group includes our own little Jonathan Eugene who was miscarried in March, 1987. (I still sometimes wonder what he would have been like as a young man now.) Instead of wishing Dad here, I look forward to seeing him and all the others as they will appear when I cross from this old world into that wonderful place! I love you, Dad.
2 comments:
Mom, I love what you wrote about Grandpa. I am terrible at remembering dates so I am embarassed that I did not remember that it was 5 years ago. There are many, many things I remember about Grandpa and most of them make me laugh or smile. I do have one regret though, I did not get to see him play with my kids. He was such a big "kid" himself. Of course we all know that his Mom passed it down to him and my kids will someday be grateful that your Dad passed that wonderful trait on to you. I love you Mom, never grow up!
Thanks, Chris. No need to be embarrassed; I wouldn't expect you to remember the date. I do hope I never outgrow the ability to have fun with the kids and laugh much. This year this date was particularly hard for some reason.
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