Four of my favorite things

At least currently. 
And in no particular order.

1.  Having my kids visit on non-holiday weekends. 
This really is number 1 on the list.  The others below can go in any order :)
My daughter has a long weekend for mid-term break from school so she drove home in nine hours.  It's been so much fun having her back!  I haven't seen her for two months and won't see her again until Christmas break, so I am enjoying this.  We spent afternoons running errands and I was soaking up the time with her.  I forced her to watch an old movie with me, Good Neighbor Sam with Jack Lemmon.  I loved this movie as a kid and haven't seen it in years.  She thought it was pretty funny too. 
I'll see my son at Thanksgiving and am looking forward to some time with him too.

2.  Pumpkin Pie chocolates from See's Candies.
Oh - My - Gosh!  I bought some candies for a friend and decided to get one of those to try.  WOW!  If you like pumpkin anything you have to try these.  I am not kidding!  This was one of the stops with my daughter just so I could buy some more.  Still so good.  Seriously, go get some.

3.  Being an empty nester.
I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about not having the kids home, but it's been really great.  Don't get me wrong.  I love my kids!  And as you read above, I'm enjoying the time with them when they come home.  But....it really has been nice not worrying about feeding them, where they are, cleaning up after them.  Hubby and I have been enjoying ourselves and I feel, two months into it, we've been doing a great job being just husband and wife with no kids. 

4.  Kettle Korn
Enough said.  But here's the great thing about this one.  I have a recipe to share.  My hubby and I went to our neighbor's home for an evening and they had some kettle korn and shared with us.  It was very good and homemade.  So not only did they share the recipe, we made two batches and they let us take one home.  So of course I've been making kettle korn almost non-stop.  It is so easy and I hope you enjoy it too.

Kettle Korn
3 Tbls oil
1/2 Cup kernels
1/3 Cup sugar
Salt to taste

In a stock pot heat oil and 2 or 3 kernels until they pop.  I put my stove temperature just past medium (I have an electric range).  Add the remaining kernels, stir.  Add the sugar and stir.  There will be a few clumps, this is ok.  I do stir a bit more then cover and shake on the stove top until popping is done.   Pour onto a cookie sheet and salt.  I use quite a bit of salt. 

Try not to eat in one sitting.  Good luck with that. 

What things you are enjoying right now?

One more hour

My baby (OK, so he's not so small - 6' 2+" and not too young - an adult, actually) is coming home for the weekend and will be here in about an hour.  I really didn't expect to see him until Christmas.  He doesn't have a car at college and I didn't know if there was anyone from our area at his school. 

Luckily, he met and made friends with another kid from our town and he even has a car. 

We received a call earlier this week from our son asking if it would be OK if he came home this weekend.  Are you kidding?  YES! 

I'm actually surprised as to how excited I am to see him.  Hopefully we'll get a few hours with him since there are a few guys from high school still in town. 

Either way, my baby is coming home this weekend and I am so excited. 

And then there was one.

I now only have one child at home.  We dropped one off at college and now it's just the three of us.

I did exceptionally well, I must say, controlling my tears.  (I am a weeper!  I carry this family in the emotional area of tears since I tend to be the only one equipped with them.)

I took a few days off from work, we loaded, and I mean LOADED, up the car and headed off to take my son to college and then look at a couple of other schools for my daughter.  Dropping him off brought back so many memories of my college life.  So many fun times.  So many hard times, too.  But all a part of the transition from the comforts of home to eventually being out on my own.  I loved college and am excited for my kids to experience all college life has to offer.  I met my best girlfriend at school and of course the best part was meeting my husband.  We are about to hit our 24th wedding anniversary.  At 25 years we will be empty nesters!

Back to current events.  We got him unloaded, bed made, and off to the bookstore to pick up shirts and sweatshirts.  We barely saw him after that.  He got his books and took off.  We made our purchases and walked the campus.  Beautiful school with amazing views.  Met up with him back in his room to say good-bye and we were off for a three hour drive to visit a school for my daughter. 

No tears!

Next morning up and out to meet with the admissions counselor and walk the grounds of potential school #1.  Another beautiful campus.  I really liked the school and felt it was a perfect fit for my daughter but wanted to hear her thoughts.  She was feeling the same.  

Back in the car for a two hour drive to visit potential school #2.  A much bigger university, 14,000 students versus 1,000 from the school we just came from.  Very good school, another beautiful campus in a wonderful town.  I didn't get the personal vibe like the first.  My daughter liked it but felt it was quite large.  If she pursues the major she is currently thinking she wants to do, then school #1 would be the best fit - and she thinks so too. 

Back in the car for the last one hour drive back to the town my son is in.

Up the next morning to go to convocation for the freshmen and see him for the last time until, most likely, Christmas break.  We said our good-byes and prayed over him.  He told us he is looking forward to us leaving (brat :)) and my last "I love you" was a bit raspy from holding back a few tears as I got in the car.  But that was all. 

I am comforted knowing this is the school I believe God chose for him to attend.  We drove the five hours home, picked up our dogs, ordered a pizza and began to settle in as a family of three.

Minor breakdown

I feel quite foolish.  I've been doing quite well, I think, with the realization that my first born is heading off to college.  To be completely truthful, I am excited for him to head off and discover life on his own; so to speak.  But....

The other day, just a few days before we were to take him to school I had a moment.  Totally out of the blue - but isn't that when "moments" tend to happen?  I am at the grocery store buying ingredients to make his favorite dinner, terriake chicken.  I'm making his last home-made dinner before we take off.  I'm OK with it.  I gather all my items and about to head to the checkout.  I end up taking the candy isle towards the registers and see his favorite candy on sale.  Perfect.  I'll grab some so he'll have some of his favorite in his dorm room.  Good plan, bad execution.  I almost lost it as I put the candy in my cart.  Go figure chocolate would bring a mom to tears. 

I gathered myself and made it to the registers.  Second round of holding back the tears happened when I put that darn candy on the conveyor belt.  Get it together, girl.  I managed to purchase my items and get to the car before the tears began to flow.  I sat in my car for a few minutes with tears streaming down my cheeks. 

As excited as I am to have my baby move on, it doesn't mean it's easy to let him go.  I am sure I will have a few more days of that, before and after he's gone.  But that is what my role of a mom is and I WILL get through it.  I'll look at it as practice for next year because I get to do it all over again when my daughter leaves next summer. 

Graduation

I can't believe my baby boy is now a high school graduate.  I can't express how proud we are of him - he's become such a fine young man, an honorable man, a smart man, and just an all around great guy!  We are very impressed with his dedication to school.  He graduated with honors - something my hubby and I didn't do.  He will be heading off to college in a few months and I can honestly say, as of now, I am very excited to see him go.  Not because I want him out of the house, but because this is what the last 18 years were supposed to be about: preparing him to become a self-sufficient man. 

Going away to college, while still a bit under mom and dad but in a remote way, is a great way to begin to figure out how to make it on your own.  Of course I will miss him, and his laugh.  But I am excited to see him grow into his own. 

For now, I will cherish the few months of him being home. 

Congratulations my son!

BIRTHDAY WISHES

A big shout out for super happy birthday wishes to my older sister.  I hope you are having a wonderful day!
I'm thinking of you and love you.
Peggy

Not on Friday

I am not playing hooky; but I am home from work today.
My boss knows.
I have the NCAA basketball first round games on the TV in the background.  I LOVE this tournament.

I'm not home because I want to watch the games; well, I do, but that is not why I'm home.  My son has a bad tooth and we are waiting to leave for the dentist.  That - getting an appointment to the dentist - on a Friday was eight calls in the making (actually it was far more than that, I'm not counting the numerous calls I made and received the answering machine AFTER the time it told me they would be open).

Oh my.  Do not have to see a dentist on a Friday!  My son's tooth started hurting pretty bad last night so he would have to be seen today because we didn't want to wait through the weekend.  And really, why should we?  So I called his dentist and the recording told me they opened at 7:00 am.  Great.  Called a few minutes after 7 and called a few more times and every time received the answering machine.  The office is a block away, so we decided to drive over.  Maybe they forgot to turn off the machine.  Nope.  Nobody in.  As we left, I saw a girl walking into the building and thought maybe that was an employee.  Got back home and called again.  Yes, she was the worker, but didn't know how to reach the dentist and she was going to be the only one in.  After a few minutes she saw a note that had the on-call dentist's number.  OK, now we are getting somewhere.  I call him.  Nope.  He is closed and I can call his home number.  I call and leave a message.  (He did call me back about 2 hours later.)

I decided to call my dentist.  Guess what?  They were closed.  The recording said if I had an emergency I could call the dentist's cell phone.  I did.  He answered his phone.  He gave me a few names to contact.  He actually would have come in to see my son, but had previous plans and was leaving town.

I tried the first two names.
And - they - were - closed.

I called the final option he gave me.  It's the office next to his.  A live person answers the phone.  Yes, they can see him.  We set the time.  Oh, by the way, the office near you is closed.  We are located across town.  Do you still want to come in?  Are you kidding?!  You are the only ones open.  Of course I'm coming in!

So you now get to read about my frustrating morning trying to get into a dentist while I wait for our appointment.  I get so see a bit of basketball, my boss said to take care of my baby and he'll see me Monday (I have the best boss) and my son should be feeling better soon.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Oops! She did it again.

And I don't mean that in a good way.

Club volleyball has ended before it even began.  Last week, my dear daughter was hurrying to get to her meeting before school.  She parked, got her book bag and then reached back in to get her tea.  That's when she conked her head on the door jam and guess what?  Yup, she got her 4th concussion in less than a year.  What are we going to do with her?

We are NOT allowing her to play club volleyball, which is just starting up for the season.  This was going to be her last year and I was looking forward to watching her play at a higher age level and with stronger players.  I really love going to the all day tournaments.  Yes, they do get long sometimes, but I love the sport and enjoy watching the team play.  And I have made some great friends along the way. 

We have been telling her since the car wreck that if she gets another concussion, she will have to stop playing.  It isn't worth her health or her future for a short pleasure of volleyball.  She handled it great!  I told her she accepted that so much better than I would have at her age, and I honestly think I had the hardest time accepting this. 

We do believe this door is closing for a reason.  We may never know for sure why, but can trust that God has something planned, or a protection we will not need to worry about, now that she is no longer playing this sport. 

Now we move forward with weekends free and evenings available for homework.  And my dear daughter has grown and is better for it because of this abrupt change and her ability to handle it so well. 

2013 is starting off a bit challenging, but when is life NOT a challenge?  I really don't think I want to live a life where I'm not being challenged in some way.  But sometimes I'd like the challenge to not be so hard.

Almost Christmas

I guess I have to blame the holidays and work for staying away so long, at least that's what I'm going with.  Sorry about that.  Work keeps me busy, I'm glad I love what I do.  Always something new to learn and put into practice.  That's the way work should be, shouldn't it?  Thankfully, I have that.  I've been there for five years and have no plans to leave.  I always tell my boss he is stuck with me whether he likes it or not.  So far he seems OK with it.  Smile.

Is it just me or is Christmas sneaking up on you too?  During Thanksgiving weekend it seemed like Christmas was so far off and there was so much time to get everything done.  Now, it's almost here.  I did procrastinate a bit with my decorating.  My daughter wasn't happy about that - she loves the house full of decorations.  Usually I get everything out and up during the Thanksgiving weekend.  This year I did get the lights up outside.  Then within the week I got the tree up.  Then a few days later most of the decorations were out (but I didn't put everything up as I normally do).  Then the last of what I was going to put out finally went up about a week ago; that includes our toy tree, which you can read about here. 

This week I can say I am caught up and ready for the holiday, except for the food.  I still need to get our Christmas dinner prime rib and all the fixins'.  But my shopping and mailing is complete and even my gift wrapping is done (I am ALWAYS wrapping Christmas Eve so it will be nice this year not having to worry about it).  Don't hate me because I happen to appear organized one holiday out of my lifetime.

The kids love the tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve then they have to wait for all the others, and Santa's gifts (yes, Santa will always visit our home even when the kids are gone) until Christmas morning.  This tradition started when I was a kid.  My grandparents (Christmas Grandma and Grandpa as we called them - you can guess why) would come visit and the adults would open their gifts on Christmas Eve.  They did this so they would have little to open Christmas morning (Santa always left them a few gifts too) and would be able to watch us kids open our gifts.  We all had stockings (hand made by my mom and each unique and completely different from the others) with goodies as well.  Of course, as kids, watching these adults take a couple of hours to open each gift, one by one, was excruciating.  My parents relented and allowed us to open one gift.  This was just to shut us up, I'm sure.  My hubby and I don't open our gifts Christmas Eve, but we do allow the kids to open just one.  Then Christmas morning is a fun time opening gifts, going through the stockings and listening to Christmas music.  Later we watch football games and then eat prime rib. 

I love the casualness of the day.  We stay in PJ's and enjoy family time.

What family traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?

College Search

A few weeks ago I took my son to preview a college.  Having a senior in high school has a whole new set of issues to worry about, plan, prepare....so many things to keep track of.  A few months ago he wasn't sure what he wanted to do after graduation.  Junior year is a very tough year, academically.  Coming into his senior year he was getting pretty tired of school. 

Who really knows what they want to do with their life at 17?  Not many kids do.  So he went from taking a year off next year to looking at a trade to now the engineering field.  He was looking at one university out of state until I talked with a coworker, who mentioned another university to consider.  As we looked into that school more, my son realized he wanted to pursue that school. 

We decided to take a day off and head over to check it out.  I loved it!  But better yet, my son loved it!  He already applied and we are waiting for the acceptance.   The more we looked at the school and talked about it, the more it was feeling right.  We had many friends tell us they know people who went there and how much they got out of their education and a successful career. 

I'm still a bit shocked that I have a kid who will be old enough to graduate from high school.  It doesn't seem possible.  But I look at him and am so proud of him.  My baby boy really is becoming such a fine man. 

Fore

Last weekend my hubby and I had a day out.  We were invited to play in a best ball scramble.  That's golf, if you didn't know.  The course was a pretty drive a half hour away.  My hubby golfs all summer - he coaches baseball to feed his summer golf habit.  He had never golfed at this course.  So half the fun for him was trying out a new course.  I consider myself somewhat athletic.  I can goof around in most sports but golf is one I haven't played much.  I know and understand the game, but just don't play.  Basketball is the other - I can barely dribble a ball let alone shoot. 

A best ball scramble is the best format for this duffer.  We play as a foursome and everyone tees off.  Then we pick up our ball and move to the best ball hit.  Then all hit from there and continue to move to the best ball until we hit it in the cup.  The one main rule is each team has to use two drives from each person.  After that, it's fair game as to whose ball is used. 

Last year I played once and I've matched that amount of playing time with this tournament.  As I said, my hubby hadn't golfed here before and my golfing son was jealous (he wanted to play but I bumped him off the team and took his place).  We decided that he doesn't want to play this course.  It is laid out so tight and some holes criss-cross over each other.  On some holes we didn't know which direction we were supposed to hit.  Thankfully the couple we played with had played the course a few times and knew it (and they had a GPS for accurate yardage - huge advantage!).  I apologized to our teammates before we started since they are frequent golfers. 

We wanted to do this because it's a stress free time for me to play; hubby and I get to spend a day outside together; and the fee went to help a missionary family in Bangladesh.  How could we pass all that up?  I'm so glad we did it for all the above reasons.  And also because we WON!  Whoo hoo!  We shot a 16 under and won gift cards to a sporting goods store and a restaurant.  Bonus!

This weekend is a take-it-easy weekend.  College football starts (we've already watched a few games) and it's the last free weekend before everyone is back in school.  And it looks like we'll have nice weather to boot. 

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend and hopefully will have some fun activities planned - or maybe just take it easy.  Either way, enjoy!

Mini Va-Ca

I recently took a few days off work so the family could spend a long weekend away.  We packed up and headed to Montana.  Whitefish to be exact.  We drove through Montana a few years ago on our way to Mt. Rushmore (fabulous trip by the way).  This time we got off the main freeway and took a few smaller highways to get to Whitefish.  It seemed like a long drive but really wasn't too bad (only 4.5 hours).  At times it was a pretty drive.  Definitely different landscape, which I enjoy seeing. 

The drive to Whitefish

We found a condo to stay at that was located right in the village at the top of Big Mountain.  What a gorgeous view!  The town is as quaint as can be.  Too bad we had kids with us.  Hubby and I love to walk through the shops and explore.  Boring for the kiddies.  Plus, we didn't have a lot of time.  It was a quick long weekend. 

The boys golfed one day while the girls spa'd.  Everyone was happy that day!  The golf course had spectacular views of the mountain.  We also lucked out because the weather was perfect - clear and sunny.  Who doesn't want that when they are on vacation?

We also went into Glacier National Park and did a 2 hour horse back ride.  Glad we did it, but wouldn't do it again.  It was like the pony rides at carnivals except the horses went in a straight line with a guide and not in circles.  I could have fallen asleep on the horse and still made it back to the stable if it wasn't for the two kids who talked the entire time.  No wild life sightings happening on our tour.

Our other adventures were riding the alpine slide and zip lining on the mountain.  What a blast!  Big Mountain is set up for Summer adventure.  The entire family loved these two events.  There is also a ropes course available to move at your own pace and a jump/slide blow up thing that is great for the kids - no matter your height or age. 

The food - Oh my!  Almost all of it was delicious, some of it not as much, but no loser meals the entire time.  Expensive, but tasty. 

This is one of the few places we really want to come back to and spend a week at.  So much more to do.  We would like to take the tram to the top of the hill and mountain bike down.  Whitewater rafting is another adventure we plan to do.  There is a longer zip line we would sign up for.  And the hubby and I will walk the shops - kids, you are on your own.  There is Whitefish Lake and spending some time hanging out there would be a nice relaxing day.  Of course, more golf for the boys.  So that would mean more spa for the girls.  Ooh, I'm liking this already. 

I have to admit I was the bad mom this trip.  Don't ask me how I could forget, but I left the camera at home.  I'm a dork.  I tried to take a few pictures with my cell phone (I don't have a fancy phone, just a text and talk phone) needless to say, they didn't turn out well as a camera.  I was able to get the one view on the drive above.

This spot is now on our consider retirement area list.  Of course, we are not skiers, snowboarders or outside winter people.  Being Whitefish receives on average 300 inches of snow each year we'd have to rethink that retirement option until we have a chance to visit in the winter.  We'll have to see what comes of that. 

What fun activities or vacations have you done this summer?

Surprise

My hubby and I love each other very much but for our birthday or Mother's or Father's Day we don't do much for each other.  It's just one of those things we both agree on.  Many times we don't even give a card.  Same with our anniversary.  And we are both totally OK with that.  Neither of us feels slighted.  We definitely give best wishes to each other on these days but that's close to all we get.

I do make a prime rib roast for our anniversary and Valentine's Day.  He usually does stop at the grocery store and brings home some flowers for me for Valentine's Day.  Normally, though, those Hallmark days pass and Hallmark loses money on us. 

Christmas is another story.  We both try to get a couple of items the other has been wanting.  Many times they are practical items and that is fine because it's something we've been wanting.  I always make sure the kids receive gifts for their birthdays.  I won't deprive them (or me) of that fun and joy. 

So imagine my surprise when the man carrying a huge bouquet of flowers came into my office and presented me with those flowers.  He asked if it was my birthday or a special day and I said no.  He saw my stunned look and said to smile and just enjoy it.  He said those are the deliveries he loves to give because they are surprises.  Yes it was! 

My dear hubby had flowers delivered to me, just because.  He wanted to send me love and let me know he was thinking of me.  I am so blessed.  And are you just a little jealous?  Oh, they smelled delicious.  Too bad you can't smell them too.

Have you had any fun surprised lately?

We Need A Car

Yes, that red car is, or should I say was, our car.  By God's grace our injuries weren't as bad as they could/should have been.  My husband was driving with my daughter and the other driver clipped a city bus and hit my husband head on.  The broken windshield is from the airbag, thankfully, not my daughter.  Here's a link to the story that the news covered along with more pictures.  (The added comments below the story are others who know nothing about the accident except what they read.)

After saying our blessings, we are now a bit put off because we are in the throws of car shopping-yuk.  We really liked this extremely reliable and affordable low mileage car.  Trying to find something comparable has me pulling my hair out.  I hate the idea of having to replace something that didn't need replacing prior to this and I'm not finding anything similar. 

The drama we've been experiencing these past four plus months is getting old.  I don't live a drama filled life and am ready for the "excitement" to subside.  I think we are on our way because my son has been golfing very well and that has been exciting to see him improve during the school season, which just ended the other day.  As he reminded us, now he has to start paying for his golf.  Time to find a job, I think, to help pay for all those tee times.

I am planning on having a coffee soon.  This will get me to clean the house and get back to a more typical "normal".  I've already decided that I'm not worrying about making fun treats (something I love doing) because that's not important.  The local grocery store can supply the goodies this time.  It's the company around the table is what I crave and enjoy and are what the coffee times are all about.

Enjoy and appreciate your families today.

In Memory of Dave

I'm back from my dad's funeral services.  It's so hard to say good-bye to someone you dearly love.  But, I do have hope because I know he was a Christian and loved Jesus and one day I will be with him again in Heaven.  Until then, I have joy that he is with Christ.

I also had a wonderful time being with my family.  My family is close and we always have fun and laugh, no matter the circumstances.  And we were able to laugh last weekend.  My uncle did a fabulous job speaking at the church and sharing about the early days and our family history.  We all learned something new about dad, and the family, which was wonderful.  Thankfully I video taped the services so I can go back and write down the history. 

Dad was in the Air Force for 20 years and retired a Lt. Colonel.  Because of that he also received a military burial with the folding of the flag, taps played and a gun salute.  It was beautiful and so deserving. 

I also spoke at the funeral and gave a daughter's perspective of dad.  Here's my tribute to dad and what I said....

I’m Peggy, the 2^nd of the 4 daughters and I want to share a few memories of dad.  As I look back on my life growing up, so many memories of dad come to mind, and most of them are the snapshots of everyday living:

           - Dad in the garage listening to baseball while tinkering on something.

           - Having a fire most nights, even in California.

- Teaching me how to balance my bank statement – and I still do every  

   month.

- For our birthdays going to dinner, without the sisters, and dad usually

  remembering what he had at every restaurant – he loved food.

- Tail-gating before Stanford football games.

- Watching the Alfred Hitchcock movie, “The Birds”.

- Coming home from work and reading the paper and not hearing anything

  going on around him.  We’d talk with him and he could tune all of us out.

- And the family favorite: trying to say our name but going through  

  everyone in the house, including the dog, before getting it correct.  This

  has been passed on to each of us.

But dad had a few traits about him that stand out above all.

First and foremost, dad was a family man.  His family meant everything to him.  He loved his kids, his brother and niece and nephew, all his grand kids – he loved everything about the family.  If it had been a bit since he’d talk to us he’d call and say, “hi toots, it’s your daddy” and find out how we were doing.  It didn’t have to be a long conversation, he just wanted to check in and see how we were.

           He loved his four girls and we knew it.  When he and Carol married he gained a son and another daughter and he welcomed them as his own.  And I know they felt the same about him. 

           Dad was also a man of faith.  He wasn’t charismatic about it; instead he lived his faith.  I don’t think I ever heard him say a mean word about anyone.  He was honest, kind and had the utmost integrity.   He loved being a part of the men’s Bible study for both the learning and the company.  He enjoyed serving at the church and ushering. 

           Dad was also a provider.  He worked hard and loved his work.  He instilled a strong work ethic in all of us by his example.  He loved what he did.  I remember him telling us that he had done such a thorough job at Boeing that he streamlined himself out of a job.  I think he was proud that he was able to improve operations so well that he wasn’t needed in that area anymore.  Thankfully he did move into another position.

           All dad’s jobs were top secret, but he had a way of telling us about a project he was working on and it seemed like he told us everything when, in fact, he disclosed nothing.  Dad had that story-telling ability, which I know he got from his dad, and so did Uncle Harold.

           I don’t have that story telling gift, but I will still tell you a few stories and memories of times with Dad.

           Many of you might be surprised that dad would occasionally break out into a tap dance around the house.  The time that stands out the most when dad danced was when we moved to Sunnyvale.  Dad and I were in the back of the moving van, just hanging out, and two girls were poking around trying to get a peak of the new neighbors.  Dad prodded me to go out and say Hi.  Believe it or not, I am shy at times and didn’t want to.  So dad made his move and tap danced down the ramp of the van.  I could hear giggles.  Being the cool 2^nd grader that I was, I was mortified (maybe that was a bit of dad’s motivation??).  We did become friends with those girls, so no harm done.

           Dad loved baseball!  Like I said, he would listen to games on the radio on the weekends when he worked in the garage.  And I know I love listening to the Mariners on the radio because of him.  He played on men’s softball leagues for many years.  It was very hard for him to give that up because he was traveling so much and then physically couldn’t do it anymore.  He coached many of my and Karen’s softball teams – it was great having a coach that knew the game and how to teach us.  Sometimes after a game, dad in his jeans and me in my uniform and cleats, would find an open house or new construction in the area and check it out. 

           Many Sundays after church we’d make our sandwiches and sit in front of the TV and hang out and watch whatever game was on – either baseball or football.  Here’s a hint I learned from dad – the best sandwiches always include pepperocini peppers.

           We are all blessed for knowing dad!  He was an honorable man.  He was a hard worker and proud of his family.  But I think the best gift he gave us is being a loving father.  Because of his example, the ability to accept and understand that our God is a loving Father is so natural.  That is such an easy concept because dad was a great example here on earth.

He will be greatly missed – no doubt!  But it was a special Easter this year knowing that while we celebrated the risen Christ, Dad was WITH the risen Christ. 

And it doesn’t get any better than that!          

                                                      I love you Dad!