Daddy...

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." --Ephesians 6:4

(daddy standing in front of the cabin before he started the rebuilding)

Two things I feared growing up...the LORD, and my dad. It wasn't so much that I was "afraid" of him, it was just the fear of disappointing him. He was a fun dad, my friends always loved him. He made them laugh. He worked hard all his life to give us the things that we needed, and even the things we didn't need. He and Mom always took us to church, I never saw him drink, He never used bad language. He rarely go angry. I'm sure he did get angry with us girls. But he was always kind about it. I never wanted to see the look of disappointment in his eyes. I'm sure it was there, but he never held on to it. For my senior Prom I had a bright idea to have a new hair cut. It was super short, I cried and cried. He told me it looked pretty. Later, (not too long ago) we were discussing it and he told me "the truth". He told me once when I was heartbroken, (over a boy no less), that "time heals all wounds". Indeed they do. He took us camping, and did fun stuff with us. I can imagine it was difficult at times living with four women. He never complained. He didn't hug us daily, but we knew that he loved us. He did just what our Father in Heaven wanted him to do, Train Up A Child In The Way He Should Go; And When He Is Old He Will Not Depart From It. - Proverbs 22:6.
He played in a blue grass band, "Southern Grass". The equipment vehicle was an old hurst. Golly, I hated that thing, but you know what, my sisters and I rode in the back of it anyway...can you imagine the looks we got???
I remember taking hiking trips and camping out. It's been at least 10 years since I've gone with him...the last one I remember, our hike to Gregory Bald
it was a long hike, but boy was it ever worth it. He sings in church with Mark and my b.i.l Jeff. It's heavenly music. I'm so proud of him. He loves to garden...has countless rows of potatoes, and they are the best. I can't imagine my life without him...though I know he won't be here forever...I'll always have the good memories and I can always say I'm proud of my raisin'...I love you daddy.

(that's me standing just in front of daddy with dark hair)

What Makes a Dad
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
(author unknown)