HAPPY BIRTHDAY - AUGUST 18, 2014

Today the kids and grandkids and I spent a lot of the day remembering you, our 4th year celebrating your birthday without you. We all miss you so very much! It is still a very special day to us, and we always have fun remembering the fun things about you and those special memories we each have. We want to keep those memories alive in our hearts and to pass them on to your grandchildren. Recently Rebekah told me that she heard Genzi and Riah in their room crying and went to see what was wrong. Genesis was crying because she was remembering special times with you and was missing you. Riah was crying because he couldn't remember many of those special times and didn't want to lose those memories he did have and was missing you. Rebekah cried along with them and I cried when she told me about it. You were such a good PaPa, and you loved them so much. They will never forget that love. The other three never got to meet you, but we share our memories of you. They know who you are from your picture, and I believe feel your love through our telling them about you. This morning Rebekah, Bethany and I took the 5 grandkids to the store, and we all picked out flowers to put in a special family bouquet. Each of the kids picked out a Happy Birthday balloon for you. Then we found things that reminded us of you and added them to the bouquet. There was a Dr. Pepper bottle, Snickers, a lighthouse,a train, Nutter Butters, Sour Cream and Onion potato chips, a Bible, a guitar,a ping pong ball and mustaches. We all wore a mustache and took pictures together. I could just hear you laughing with that quiet, deep, gutteral laugh. You would have thought it was so silly, in a fun way. And it was. We want the kids to think good, fun, thoughts when they think of you. This evening Stephen, Mandy, and Samantha, Bethany and Andrew (her boyfriend), Rebekah, Peter, Genzi, Riah, Zion and Zaran all came over, and we had your favorites: chicken tortilla soup and homemade Butterfinger ice cream. You would have enjoyed it. I know we all did for you. After we ate and talked and the kids played, we gathered at the piano and sang the song that Rebekah wrote last Christmas as Stephen played the piano. The song is titled "Daddy's Favorite Things" and goes to the tune of "These are a few of my Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. It goes like this: "Gunsmoke" and Nutter Butters, and Snickers and tickling others John Wayne, Boston Baked Beans, and homemade Butterfinger ice cream. Putting cold hands on my neck 'til I scream, These were a few of your favorite things! Snacking on chips when it's almost time for dinner, Eating so much junk food and only getting thinner. When we're impatient, "Have Patience" you'd sing, These were a few of your favorite things! When I'm lonely, when I miss you; wish to see you, Dad, I try to remember your favorite things, and then I don't feel so sad! Hiking, and running, and Christian Talk Radio; Dr. Pepper and peanuts, and towel pops that make me yell, "OH!" Believing hands take fifteen minutes to clean, These were a few of your favorite things! Going on road trips and long stops at gas stations, Preaching three sermon points with perfect alliteration; "Bzz"-ing my side when I'm feeling cranky, These were a few of your favorite things! Calling me "Hop-along Cassidy" when I've gotta limp, When I'd fall down you'd ask "Did you have a nice trip?" Hour-long showers that grew longer they seemed, These were a few of your favorite things! Though you were quirky, sometimes silly, your jokes were filled with cheese; When I remember your favorite things, I giggle and smile with ease! Checking for holes in the back of your eyelids, Spinning around and round and round and round with grandkids, Giggling during ping pong when we do "P-I-N-G", These were a few of your favorite things! When I'm lonely, when I miss you; wish to see you, Dad, I try to remember your favorite things, and then I don't feel so sad! Happy Birthday, my darling. I miss you so much. Still looking forward to that day when we can be together with Jesus forever!!

37th ANNIVERSARY

Today, February 19, 2014, - our 37th wedding anniversary, I have spent the day thinking of how God blessed me with nearly 34 years with you. How He miraculously worked through our matchmaking pastor to get us to meet and gave us a little push in the right direction. How He gave me the man I had been praying for - a man who loved God with all his heart, the thing I wanted most in my life. Then He gave me the next thing I wanted most in my life - a family, as we raised our three wonderful children. We loved God with all our heart and served Him together with all our might. Sweet, precious memories! A couple of weeks ago I found a stack of 14 little cards that you had given me on our 14th anniversary. You had tied one to 14 individual roses, one for each year we had been married. I decided to save them to read today on this 37th anniversary and had been looking forward to it. So today as I read each one, they are so like you with your corny sense of humor, but so full of love. It brought back sweet memories of you and our love. I miss you so much, but feel so blessed to have those memories and to still be able to feel the love we have for each other. Here are your 14 years of our life and love together: 1. In 1977 We tasted a little Heaven. I Love You. 2. In 1978 Our love was great! I Love You. 3. In 1979 We had a good time! I Love You. 4. In 1980 Rebekah came - our new baby! I Love You. 5. In 1981 We sure had fun! I Love You. 6. In 1982 Our love grew. I Love You. 7. In 1983 We entered Pastoral Ministry. I Love You. 8. In 1984 We were growing more. I Love You. 9. In 1985 Stephen arrived & our love was alive! I Love You. 10. In 1986 - We were out in the sticks. I Love You. 11. In 1987 We were still blessed from Heaven. I Love You. 12. In 1988 - We felt we were in a strait. I Love You. 13. In 1989 We moved one more time! I Love You. 14. In 1990 We saw God's Timing. I Love You. And to think we had 20 more years together after that! And one day we will have an eternity of I Love You's! Can't wait! In the mean time, I want to pin my love, one for each year, right here: 1. I Love You! 2. I Love You! 3. I Love You! 4. I Love You! 5. I Love You! 6. I Love You! 7. I Love You! 8. I Love You! 9. I Love You! 10. I Love You! 11. I Love You! 12. I Love You! 13. I Love You! 14. I Love You! 15. I Love You! 16. I Love You! 17. I Love You! 18. I Love You! 19. I Love You! 20. I Love You! 21. I Love You! 22. I Love You! 23. I Love You! 24. I Love You! 25. I Love You! 26. I Love You! 27. I Love You! 28. I Love You! 29. I Love You! 30. I Love You! 31. I Love You! 32. I Love You! 33. I Love You! 34. I Love You! 35. I Love You! 36. I Love You! 37. I Love You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

February 2, 2014

Three years ago we laid your body to rest in the cold, frozen ground of a blizzard which matched the feelings of my heart: cold, numb and frozen. At the same time I knew you weren't in that cold body that went into the ground, but you were more alive than ever in the place you always wanted to be; no more worries or cares of life for you. Just like the ground eventually thawed, so did my heart, and I began to feel again. Except it was mostly pain that I felt; a pain that has perhaps lessened somewhat but none-the-less still there. But I have also been able to feel what a great love God has for both of us. He has always been our Best Friend, but now that friendship with Him has become so much more real. Especially for you. But for me, also. He has helped me through so much, comforting and encouraging me, helping me know what to do when I don't know on my own, being so near I can feel Him with me. I know the coming years will bring many challenges without you, but Jesus will help me. And I know that every day without you is another day closer to being with you! As you said, "We'll be together, and with Jesus it will be forever"!

JANUARY 27, 2014

It's been three years since you went away. Our Friend, Jesus, brought you to Heaven to stay. I still think about you each and every day, And tell you I love you in my own special way. Thirty-seven years ago about this time, When we were still young and in our prime. You made me a promise that I believe is still true. We'll be together, and with Jesus it will be forever in a life brand new. "Soul mates" doesn't end when one dies; Our souls are bound together forever with eternal ties. I can feel you near me in the midst of my cries, So I know this is not the end, though I said my earthly goodbyes. So for now in my heart time just stands still, Even though the world around me goes on each day to fill. I'm waiting for the day our Friend says, "Come on up, up over Calvary's Hill, We've made that place for you here", and be together forever WE WILL!