I would love to tell you about my dad. He passed away on November 6th of this year and has left a void in my life. I really loved this man and I wish I could tell him. Not that I didn't and not that he didn't know. He did. The last time I talked to him he thanked me for a small, little thing that I did...I wish I could thank him for the large, never-ending things he did. He inspired me to be the best I could be, to take whatever life deals me with courage and faith, and to remember how blessed I am.
A few of memories of growing up.....
Sitting on his lap in the rocking chair when I had a bad dream
Planting tomatoes and cucumbers each year, filling the holes full of water before the tomatoes went in the dirt
Picking peaches and cherries
Weeding the roses
Doing the Saturday house cleaning when Mom was at work
Eating "Kippered Snacks" sandwiches or cucumber sandwiches after the Saturday work was done
Riding with my Mom into Salt Lake City late at night to pick up my Dad from working late
Eating at the special Chinese resturant in Salt Lake City. Dad always had American food and Mom and I had Chinese
Going to the grocery store on Saturdays to get ham and cheese sandwiches made fresh for 10 cents each
Making and bottling homemade rootbeer and then having it explode in the shed
Searching in the car for me when I didn't come home from a basketball game...boy, was he mad!
He was never a "talker" --probably because he probably missed alot of the conversation because he was almost deaf when I was growing up and later in life --completely deaf. I remember trying to tell him that there was an ambulance behind us using full siren. Growing up the youngest child and only girl, I was able to go with my parents alot after my brothers were doing their "own thing".
My Dad was dedicated to his church calling wihich he held for 31 years!!!! Can you imagine having the exact same church calling for 31 years? He was the ward financial clerk and when everything went to computers---he learned the programs so he could continue with his calling.
I am thankful for my father and the dedication he had to everything and everyone he loved. He might of been small in stature but he is a giant in my eyes!
