The Death of a Loved One

There are things that happen in life that you hate going through.  The death of a parent is one of those things.  I know that we all have an appointed time to die.  Yet, when that time comes the knowledge doesn't make it any easier.

It was especially true with the death of my dad 19 years ago today, 03-03-03.

Dad was my hero for many reasons, but the main reason was seeing how he took care of my mother for the last eight years prior to his death.  She had the horrible disease of Alzheimer.  Even after she had to go into the nursing home, he still took care of her.  He went to see her and spend time with her every single day.  He would feed her and take naps with her on her twin bed.  It was training for me as I cared for Tim when he was sick with melanoma.  Dad showed me what commitment and unconditional love was all about in an earthly sense.  Thank you, dad, for loving mom. 

Dad would go to the church to help in the printing ministry when he was not with mom at the nursing home.  I think he even bought his meals at the nursing home to eat with mom.

Dad ended up in the hospital to have a pace-maker "installed" (for lack of a better word).  The surgery went well and dad was feeling great.  Then came the day for him to be released from the hospital.  He was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed and ready to go home, waiting on the final OK from the doctor.  The doctor gave him the bad news that he wasn't going to be able to go home because his temperature was up and he wanted to keep him until the fever went away, just to be safe.  It ended up being an infection that went septic and dad never left the hospital.

I remember the night that the family gathered around his bedside to say goodbye to him.  It was so sad.  He only opened his eyes a couple of times during the hours we were there before the Lord took him.  

He was a wonderful father and husband.....he was a wonderful man.  He was one of those people who never knew a stranger.  

I really only remember one time that my dad punished me physically.  That was after my brother and I were running through the house (the first mistake) and as we ran through mom and dad's bedroom, I grabbed the poster to their bed and it broke off in my hands!  That's the only time I remember my mom postponing punishment "until your dad gets home!"  Dad paddled my bottom with that bed post and then kissed me good night with tears in his eyes!  I have no idea what punishment was given to my brother, but I'll never forget my punishment.

Mom, dad and I were all baptized the same night in 1965 at a church in Dartown, Ohio.  The church we attended was in College Corner, Indiana pastored by Harold Haynes.  Loved that man!  Not long afterwards we moved to Kentucky.  I was 10 years old.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge  since that time.  My kids used to spend a week with mom and dad every summer.  I'm sure they all have fond memories of spending time there with their cousins.

I'm so thankful the Lord chose to save my family.  I cherish that Christian upbringing, even though I wasn't crazy about it at that time!  Thank You, Lord, for godly parents!

Christmas 1979 at mom and dad's.  I was pregnant with my daughter, Jessica Ann.  She was due in 2 days but wasn't born until January 2, 1980.  Pictured on the right is my brother, Joe, in the back and my sister, Kim, in front of Joe.