Poppa

Your wife and your children tell the whole picture...the love and care we have witnessed in the past 3 years in Linda has went beyond amazing...she has shown us a picture completely of a Proverbs 31 woman. As I watched your children...all 7 of them, carry you out last night all I could think of is what a legacy you have left behind. 7 men and women who will make this world better...because you made this world better and you taught them how to do the same!

So thank you from this "extra" one you gained 31 years ago...
thank you for accepting each of us extras!
for the example you have been to us all,
for the husband you taught mine to be...because of that...I'm blessed more than I can say in words!
for the son and brother you allowed us to witness in you
for the provider you have been
for the grandfather you have been...all the tears in those kids eyes last night are a testimony to the kind of Grandfather you are!

One person told me last night you said you were suppose to be the head of your home...take care of your family...you did that! You (with a help from Linda too!)...equipped them for this life...We all are better because of you!

I've never heard this before but saw it just this morning and thought it so fitting...

"When you are born you cry and the world rejoices. Live your life so that when you die you rejoice and the world cries."

Michael starts his new life with Bekah in 3 days and we will rejoice because we know you are with us...Scott has carried your legacy...and I have now doubt Michael will do the same...he is the man he is today not only because of his dad...but because of you...

My girls adore you as well...and so I just want to say thank you one last time for letting me see my first picture of not just a good man...but a godly man...rest well and worship before the throne even better!

Life...

I've been thinking about this post in my head for many days now...lots of things are going on in our lives at this point and I'm trying to appreciate each thing...the good and the bad...understanding that life moves continually...at times in direction that are very exciting and other times in a direction that scares the snot out of us! But it still goes...we want it to slow down...to wait on our timing and yet it refuses...

Our oldest grandson, Ayden, asked Jesus to live in his heart a few weeks ago and we got to witness his baptism this past weekend...it was an amazing feeling to see another generation desiring to follow hard and fast after Jesus...As they moved away 4 years ago I knew I'd have a difficult time missing birthdays and other special holidays with them...but my fear of never seeing such an amazing time in their lives broke my heart...so being able to be present was an extra special bonus for my heart to witness...his daddy had to honor of baptising him and the look on Jesse's face was priceless!

Our sweet Laney Kate just turned one yesterday! She is something else! When Camden was born I thought he will never really know me...and he does...I think he is even crazy about his grammy most of the time...I even had then same fear with little Laney...and she too...likes me I think....and I KNOW she knows who I am...she will not say grammy but she looks for me when her momma ask where I am...she lites up a room with her sweet smile...she shares that with Landon...when he smiles at you it's like you are the only person in the entire room!

Michael will be a married man in just 10 more days! I can't even find the words for this one...so very happy for him and Bekah...and excited!

We have people in our lives that are struggling with life right now...on many different levels...and want to desperately to say something that will make it better for them but...the words...they aren't there...and so what do you say, or do or how do you help? Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life...that is how we make it...so I pray that for them...He isn't A way or A truth or A life but He is THE way, THE truth and THE life...and somehow we get up each morning and we take a breath and we face...life before us...whether it is the cancer we face, the fear we face or just the knot that is in our stomach...and we take another breath and another...then we notice that in all the hardness this life has to offer there is good...and there is beauty...in the smiles of our children or the color of the bluest sky...or a pretty freshly bloomed flower...and somehow...before we know it...the breaths come and we didn't even notice them being hard to take...

As I close my eyes I see the faces of many people today...facing challenges that we never thought we'd face...from a simple as our kids growing up...to has hard as we can ever imagine...but behind those faces just beyond them I see color...greens and blues and yellows and pink and purples and I know that God is real and He is still on His throne and He IS GOOD even when life is hard...and I have hope...Romans 12 :12 say, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer"...so cling to the hope...know there is color amongst the gray and when we have no words...and lets be real most of the time we don't...be a faithful prayer warrior...