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!!