Father's Day

It wouldn't be right for this day to pass without my thinking out loud about my dad. Spending this holiday without him is still very new to me. Last year was my first Father's Day since he passed, and thankfully we were out of state visiting our older son and his family. That helped so much. So this was the first year we were doing all the usual things EXCEPT going over to visit dad.

I went many years buying dad ties and shirts, and then he really did not need any more of those things. So a few years back I started a new tradition -- I got him black licorice and ginger snaps. I can still hear his voice..."ohhh, THANK you, Jacque" as if it were some new idea each year. I don't know why he loved black licorice so much, but there is a story that goes with the ginger snaps.

Back in the days of the Great Depression, dad used to go to the grocery store with his mother. So many times, he told us, she would get to the check out and not have enough money for what she wanted to purchase, and she would always put something else back and keep the ginger snaps for my dad. He continued to love them throughout his life, and always remembered my dear grandma's sacrifice of love every time he ate some.

As I've written before, there will never be another dad like mine. I miss him so much but I have so many really wonderful memories and I was unbelievably blessed to have such an awesome earthly father.

My dad worked for the B&O Railroad (Chessie System) for 39 years as a desk clerk. He never had a 401(k) or any other substantial money, but I can tell you he was a wealthy man and he knew it. His wealth was his loving family which gave him more joy than any bank account could. He also had a zest for life and learning that money couldn't buy. Above all, he possessed a faith in God which he lived out on a daily basis.

When my dad was 60 years old, he was given an option to retire early. He never dreamed he could do it. I clearly remember encouraging him to "go for it", and he did. It proved to be one of the best decisions of his life. He took up several hobbies he never had time for when he was busy putting food on the table for his large family, sometimes working very long hours. For one, he started to paint with acrylics. Most of his work he gave away as gifts to family and friends. He sold a few paintings along the way too, and even had a collection displayed at the local library and he got written up in the newspaper. Later, he had some printed for notecards, selling some and giving away many.

The clock tower in our home town, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Dad and Mom celebrated 50 years of marriage with a large party and a cruise we kids gave them. They also celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2007. We unveiled our plans for them on Memorial Day of that year, which consisted of a series of small trips with each of us (grown up) kids, spread out over 6 months. When November came we had one last celebration weekend--a family dinner and a party for extended family and their many friends. Dad was so sick that weekend, but no one outside the immediate family would have known it.

A weekend trip to Amish Country in Berlin, Ohio, June '07.

From left: My husband, Bob, me, Mom, Dad, my sister-in-law, Lynn, and my brother, Bob...

Whenever we had a family meal, my dad always was the one to return thanks to the Lord for our provisions. However, the baton was passed at the 60th anniversary family dinner, and my brother Don, the oldest son, stood to say the prayer. I quickly snapped a picture and didn't realize until later when I saw it that I had caught dad wiping away a tear. I think he knew his time with us was short.

Dad lived almost five more months. He enjoyed 24 years of retirement, mostly in very good health and without too many of life's struggles. He lived to see 12 grandchildren and 6 of the great-grandchildren. He knew he was a blessed man.

Elylah sharing her ice cream at her second birthday party,

December 24th, 2007.

Today while I remembered my dad, I also thought about my husband, and what a great father he has been to our two sons. They are both now fathers themselves. And so it goes...one generation passing on, the next growing older, and then the next and the next. I'm reminded that every day is a gift and the older I get, the more I try to live each day to the fullest.

Our two sons with their oldest children in the summer of '06.

Left: Sam and Elylah Right: Andy holding Deacon.

"Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. Yet you do not know the least thing about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are really but a wisp of vapor, a puff of smoke, a mist that is visible for a little while and then disappears into thin air. You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and we shall do this or that thing." (James 5:13-15 Amp)