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My Dad

Ten years ago, on the 19th of January, my dad moved on from this earth to become a treasure in Heaven. I tried to write that day, but it wasn’t in me. After he passed, I wasn’t sure how we’d go on, he was the life blood of this family.

Yet, here we are, ten years of life without him on earth. However, he does make appearances in my life. I dream as if he were still here with us. These dreams feel as if he is genuinely in our lives, eating breakfast at the kitchen table, taking a Sunday drive for lunch at Sam’s Joint, watching “Becker” with him laughing so hard he’d nearly fall off the couch, walking up from the dairy barn together finding constellations in the night sky after he’d milked cows, and watching him and my mom sit on the couch taking turns petting our cat Daisy purring loudly between them while they enjoyed the daily newspaper (back when they printed a paper daily).

The first few years he was gone, waking from these dreams was about as depressing as waking up on January 20, 2004 only to realize he was gone from our daily lives. It broke my heart every time. While sleeping, it was a sweet dream. After waking, it was a nightmare.

Fortunately, in these last few years, it has become a blessing. I can meet him there, and all is as it should be. Even better, my dad isn’t the first loved one I have experienced this with. In my dreams, I also meet others who have gone before me, such as my grandma and her sister, my aunt, my sister, my niece, and many others. Each time a loved one moves on from here, it’s a terrible reminder that I can no longer talk with them, break bread with them, or enjoy their company. Each time, it is now a blessing … but like many things in life, that blessing took time to come.

I pray you find comfort in some way for your loved ones who have left this world as we know it. For me, everyone goes to Heaven. It matters not if they were Christian, because I believe in an all powerful and all loving God who would not separate us from His children in the afterlife … animal and human alike. May you also find peace from loss with time.

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Posted by Humor Happens on January 22, 2014 in Uncategorized

Tags: 10 years, anniversary, dad, death, grieve, ten years

Giving Thanks – November 4

05 Nov

I give thanks for family!

Most of these photos were taken in October 2004 when we celebrated my dad’s 80th birthday for him, since he was busy chatting it up in Heaven. Obviously, his photo was taken well before, but a few others were taken after, such as his new great-grandchildren. Two in this grouping are no longer with us here, but we will all be together again one day. It’s worth the wait to enjoy all of the family … immediate, mom’s side, dad’s side, and those we’ve adopted into our hearts.

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Posted by Humor Happens on November 5, 2013 in Uncategorized

Tags: brother, dad, Family, giving thanks, great grandchildren, heaven, mom, nephew, niece, november 4, sister, thanksgiving

Dad’s Gifts

03 Jul

My dad wasn’t big on gifts. He felt that being your best everyday was a gift to all of your loved ones. (I, on the other hand, am my best only now and again, so friends and family are very likely to receive gifts from me.)

After my dad retired from dairy farming (not from farming, just the dairy), he had more time on his hands. He and mom could take more time when they ran errands for the farm since there were no bossies waiting for his return. They would not only stop for lunch near their destination, but visit friends or family, stop by the nature center, and do a little site seeing.

On one of their afternoon outings, they enjoyed the Nature Center. It is always a delight to be there in that protected space. A while later, my mom received a hummingbird wind chime set that they’d seen at the Nature Center’s gift shop. My mom was thrilled! Not only did he get her a gift, but he had to go back later to do so!

Actually, dad gave us all gifts every day: a pleasant conversation, not judging us when we made mistakes, showing us his love of animals, sharing his memories, and so much more.

Today, the hummingbird chime is still in our front yard. Mom and I still think of dad when we see or hear it. One of those gifts that keep on giving.

Moral of the story: The greatest gifts of all, are the gifts of time, talent, and talk.

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Posted by Humor Happens on July 3, 2013 in Uncategorized

Tags: dad, Family, friend, gift, hands, loved ones, mom, nature

A Dad’s Love

17 Jun

My dad was a great guy. I know, all the children say this, but I’m not the only one to know this fact.

Yesterday my mom and I were on the Hidden Kalamazoo tour, and we ran into a great many friends and acquaintances. One such acquaintance, we haven’t seen in years. When my mom approached him, he said that he absolutely remembered her and my dad. He went on and on about how great my dad was. When we met his son in another area of the building later, he said the same thing. My dad was easy to talk to, fair in his pricing, and always ready with assistance no matter the situation.

Other people have come up to us over the years with the most kind words about my dad. They appreciated him, respected him, and enjoyed talking with him. No matter the relationship, he left a positive impression.

One that touches my more than others this year is Bob Medema. He stopped by a few months after my dad had passed on. He would occasionally stop in now and again to visit, and this was one such time. Unfortunately, he’d missed the news, and my mom had to tell him. He did not take it well. He cried on the spot. A few days later, he dropped off cookies.

That was Bob, just the kind of man my dad was (except that my dad pretended he could not cook with my mother, while telling me how to make dishes the way he liked them). My dad would have brought a card or had my mom and I make something to take. At the lose of Bob Medema, my dad would have been stricken to sadness as well and furious at the greed of society for the way in which this community lost Bob.

The blessing today, when I miss my dad, is that he had a long, loving, and good life. His life was filled with hard work and hard times, but he filled the world with the Lord’s kind of love and humility.

Morale of the Story: One of my many, constant prayers is that all children could have a dad like my dad.

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Posted by Humor Happens on June 17, 2013 in Uncategorized

Tags: appreciate, bob medema, community, dad, Family, friend, hidden kalamazoo, humility, kind, Love, relationship, respect, talk

Garbage Night

13 May

It’s Sunday night, well, to some it might be Monday morning. Until I go to bed for the day, it’s night. Sunday makes it garbage night.

Preparing for garbage night is usually on my list of least favorite things. It means the most thorough cleaning of the kitty litter all week, emptying the trash bins all around the house, and checking the fridge for miscellaneous icky things. Yet, there’s one part of the evening that is delightful.

After taking the garbage can to the street, I enjoy the walk back to the house. (Marketing: Garbage can is the term Best Way Disposal uses. As I appreciate them, they are my authority on all things garbage & recycling.)

That walk back to the house is a time to tilt my head back, look up into the sky, and see what I can see. Tonight, it was seeing the light clouds in the dark night, along with a few stars. Sometimes it’s stars galore, and other times it is an amazing moon of any shape or size. Every time, it reminds me of my childhood when my dad and I would walk to the house from the dairy barn.

My dad was a hard-working dairy farmer, as are all farmers. He was up before the crack of dawn (which I now refer to as the crack of stupid, thanks to Betsie’s intellectual remark). My mom figured that for many years he lifted 2,000 pounds each day, not including the extra weight from bailing hay in the summer. He milked 30 plus bossy’s twice daily. He often ended up repairing equipment, enduring salesmen, or being distracted by nagging children. Yet, at the end of the long, hard day’s work, he would still take a slow walk with me to the house and point out all of the constellations. It was a treasured time as he explained about a science he respected. He would share stories about weather, about the meaning of the stars, or about how light pollution reduces our vision into the night sky.

Therefore, the end result of taking the trash to the street is a good and joyful time.

Morale of the Story: Most things in life have a benefit, no matter how disgusting the activity.

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Posted by Humor Happens on May 13, 2013 in Uncategorized

Tags: cloud, dad, garbage, garbage night, memory, moon, night, night sky, night-time, stars, trash, trash night

Sisters, Sometimes

12 May

These girls are sisters, most of the time. Or is that some of the time?

Any which way, we have adopted these two kitties. I call them sisters. They were not born sisters by blood, but in our eyes, in our home, they are now sisters. I believe most pet adopters feel this way.

Yet in the world, as a human, I have a half-sister and a half-brother. My mom is their step-mom. My brother calls me his sister and he calls my mom his mom. My sister calls me her half-sister and she calls my mom her step-mom. I have always called them my sister and brother.

Then again, I am significantly younger, and they have always been here from my perspective. My mom did not pass away from this earth, and I did not witness my father date and then marry another woman. I figured that was why my one sister referred to me as her half and my mom her step. No matter, they are all I’ve got in the way of siblings, and I call them my sister and my brother – the extra step and half of that doesn’t matter to me. I love them.

On another note, my eldest sister was still alive when her ex-husband remarried. That new woman wanted my eldest sister’s children to call her mom. She was not only their step-mom, but their real mom was merely a couple of miles away. This confused the kids. My mom, who was the only living mother of my siblings never expected her step-children to call her mom. She did not want to dishonor the memory of their mother.

My mom, when referring to my great, great grandpa says that we are his family. However, his brother is only a “distant relation”. I don’t quite understand this since they were brothers; equal in relation. Yes, one is my great, great-grandfather, and the other is my great, great, great-uncle. But both are part of my history. Both share a genetic make-up of my being. Both to me are family, end of discussion.

Oh, the trials of family! I prefer to say sister, brother, mother, cousin, niece, nephew, etc., and I tend to find it more respectful of the relationship. Yet, there are times when it is disrespectful. Thank goodness our cats don’t argue with me. They are sisters to each other, and I love them all as children. Adopted or otherwise.

Morale of the Story: Treat all with love, no matter how you are related, if at all possible. The benefit is greater than the effort.

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Posted by Humor Happens on May 12, 2013 in Uncategorized

Tags: aunt, brother, cousin, dad, Family, mom, nephew, niece, relation, sister, uncle

The Sky Way

12 Apr

Driving down the highway, the clouds looked like they were guiding the way. Coming together to show me where to go. A single path.

That’s how I feel about Jesus and the heroes in my life. There is the ground that I walk upon, but there are those people in my life who show me the steps to take.

Jesus said to love one another.

Dad said to walk humbly with my fellow human beings and animals alike. (And sometimes it’s hard to tell the human beings from the animals.)

Grandma said to use my imagination. It would help me all the days of my life.

Ms. Echols said to think outside of myself. It would benefit everyone.

Pastor John said to love everyone equally. And that means everyone: The fast food chef who mixes up your sandwich, the driver who cut you off on the highway, and yourself for whatever it is that drives you nuts about yourself.

Lynn said to not fear taking steps back in order to get your head together and more forward on the right path. She was referring to the crochet, but it works in life too.

Stacy said to do the research before making the decision, but other times it’s better to jump in feet first without thinking. The intelligence factor is knowing the difference.

Betsie said it’s okay to be sad. And it’s okay to be glad. Whatever you are, don’t fake it.

Nicole and her grandma Cheri taught me to never give up. Medical issues aside, life goes on and we go on with it. There is joy to be found even when you’re in pain.

Aunt Gladys said that she’d love me no matter what I did. I was her family, and that was all that mattered. She felt that way about all of us – blood relations or not.

There are so many more who have gently nudged my path. So when I look up and see the clouds guiding my way, I know that it is God reminding me that many impact the paths I take in life. I am blessed by and thankful for each and everyone of them.

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Posted by Humor Happens on April 12, 2013 in Uncategorized

Tags: dad, friend, grandma, guide, jesus, path, teacher

My Dad’s Friend or Enemy?

17 Jan

My dad was a passionate man. This passion I speak of was his strong emotion for certain things he valued in life. More often that not, his passion was shown with a kind word, a fun story, or a shared laugh. Once in a while, someone would get him going.

We had awesome vegetarian neighbors while I was growing up. They had their own chickens for eggs, their own garden to grow veggies, and their own fruit for wine. All of the dishes I ate at their home were absolutely delicious, well seasoned, and served with love. The conversation was another matter.

I feared that this adoring couple were friends with my mom, but enemies with my dad. I didn’t know how my dad could laugh so easily during the meal, but shout with vehemence after dinner while talking with the husband in their living room. Mom, the wife, and I always stayed in the kitchen around their warm and cozy kitchen table. Yet there was shouting in the living room!

It was years before I understood what the hollering was about in the other room. Turns out, the men were “discussing” politics. Both were liberal. Both were peace keepers. Both were Christian. Both were vehement in their beliefs. Both became passionate and boisterous in expressing their shared opinions. They were preaching to the choir. Or is that yelling at the choir?

Any which way, these men not only loved one another, they shared the same beliefs in many areas. They just happened to proclaim loudly those things that they believed most passionately.

Morale of the Story: Love is shown in many ways.

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Posted by Humor Happens on January 17, 2013 in Uncategorized

Tags: dad, enemy, Family, friend, holler, neighbor, passion, politics, vegetarian, yell

Cow Cusser

02 Jan

My dad was the sweetest, kindest, most gentle person you’d ever have met. He wasn’t big on hugs, but he enjoyed spending time with those he loved. He was slow to anger and quick with a kind word. He took his time explaining most things, so long as time was available.

My dad was a faithful Christian through all of life’s toils and troubles, and believe me, he had more than his share. He led Sunday school, served on every church committee, and attended Sunday school until only two weeks before he passed on.

He was an animal whisperer. He could talk an animal into pretty much anything be it cat, dog, or cow. They were happy to do all things good for someone who understood them so well.

But he did use a language that my mom strongly disagreed with when bringing his dairy cows into the barn for the twice daily milkings. He could cuss out any cow who did not find her station in a timely manner … or who tried out another station, usually to have a few extra bits of grain.

This sweet man who could remain calm in emergencies and laugh so easily could swear better than the best of them at his bossies. I have not heard anyone cuss like my daddy could. Not sailors, not cowboys, not military men. It sure made for a fun part of the day for me to hear him tell the cows where to go and how to get there if there was any disagreement on their location in the dairy barn. It was a boring night when they all went in their assigned spots.

Morale of the Story: Everybody’s got to let off steam. Some are more entertaining to their family in doing so.

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Posted by Humor Happens on January 2, 2013 in Uncategorized

Tags: cow, cuss, dad, dairy, farm, father, milk, swear

Warning:

The stories within represent what I see in life. You may see things differently, and I respect that we may differ. The only intent is to enjoy life. May your life's journey bring you joy and humor, in addition to all of those other aspects that run rampant through our daily lives.
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©All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material that appears here or has appeared here without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

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