Miss You, Dad—Corn and All!

 My dad lives in Heaven. Wow! I miss him. He had a wit and a laugh that filled a room with fun.

 His heart burst with love and kindness and tenderness.

He seemed to always have a smile on his face and a  grandchild on his lap.

 I was blessed with a wonderful father who loved to laugh.

Dad had his idiosyncrasies too. They showed up in August when the corn arrived. During corn season my father ate corn on the cob as the main, and the only, course seven days a week. Yellow kernels and butter dripped from his chin and covered his cheeks.

 Please God don't let any of my friends show up at dinner time, I prayed as a teenager. Dad was adoreable, but the corn face was a scene I didn't wish to share with my peers.   

 It's been 11 years since I've seen corn on my dad's face. My heart aches to sit at a table with him and a platter of corn on the cob and enjoy that corny smile one more time? Oh, the idiosyncrasies that annoy us do become our dearest memories when those we love depart.

Friends, treasure your loved ones. Don't let something as silly as a corn-fed face keep you from appreciating every moment with them. 

Happy Father's Day, Dad! I'm sure the corn grows tall in Heaven and I suspect it's August all year round.

You, sweet father, were always a splash of serenity in my life. Thank you for always loving me, for encouraging me, building me up, taking me on great hikes and golf games. I miss your laugh and your smile and I miss your face—with and without the corn. Love you, Dad.

The Greatest Gift a Father Gives to His Children

My dad holding his grandgirl Elizabeth, reminds me of my dad holding me.

When your parenting journey is over, how will your children remember you?

My father's influence in my life was huge! Dad loved to laugh and play, and we did. He listened to me, cried with me, guided me, and loved me when I was good and when I was naughty. He disciplined me (usually with a smile since he seemed to enjoy my antics), but he never made me feel bad about myself. He built me up when others put me down. I loved my dad and he loved me.

The day he died, I held his motionless hand and heard his last breath. It was a beautiful moment in a hospital room filled with family and Jesus. I grieved and realized There was not one second of my life that I didn't know my father loved me. What a gift Dad gave to me--the greatest gift of all--his unconditional love.

Seconds into my sad reality of life without my dear, fun, sweet dad, God zapped a warm message to my heart: Elaine, you still have a Father--and there's not a second of your life I have not loved you. What a blessing God gave to me when He comforted my sorrow with that beautiful truth.

Miss you, Dad. Miss your love, Dad. Miss our talks and walks and hugs. Just miss YOU!!! Thankful for a Heavenly Father Who continues to love and guide and give advice and hugs and laughs with me. I am blessed.

Fathers, what will your little girls remember about you? Be a splash of serenity to your children. Don't let one second of their lives go by without them knowing you love them.

"Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

Love is the greatest gift a dad and The Father gives His children.

Thanking God for my earthly father and my Heavenly Father on this Father's Day and feeling very loved!

Elaine

The Last Walk

My dad and I took great walks together. When I was a little girl, we walked in his garden. The corn stalks grew way over my head and my dad protected me. "Don't move!" he commanded. Stopped in my tracks, I looked down to see a big black snake at my feet. Walks in the garden weren't so fun once I realized a snake resided there. In the winter we would walk up snowy hills and ride down on the old wooden Flexible Flyer sled. Dad would lie on his tummy and I would lie on top of him holding on for dear life as we sped down icy slopes. What fun! As we grew older we had longer walks and talks about life and unseen snakes and lions that prowl around seeking to devour naive young girls.

I have a picture to commemorate one of our best treks. On Dad's 87th birthday we walked 27 holes of golf and Dad shot the best score of his life--two over par. Now that was a memorable day as shown from the ear-to-ear grin on Dad's sweet face photographed, framed, and placed predominately on my piano.

It was only a few months later Dad became sick. We sat together in stillness knowing our days together would soon end. The twinkle in his eye sparkled as his mouth looked up in a grin. "Let's take a walk," he suggested. I think in Dad's heart he pushed himself for one last walk with his daughter. We shuffled down the hospital corridor. With one hand he held onto me. With the other, he held the IV pole. We talked about all the walks we had taken. I said the best walk had been the 27 holes of golf on his 87th birthday. He disagreed, saying the best walk was walking me down the church aisle to marry my husband. Our eyes were wet then as they were now. I made a joke about his wanting me married so he wouldn't have to pay my dental bills. But we both knew Dad was giving his blessing and approval of the man we both loved--my husband.

Dan and I treasure our long walks. Walking together is a priority to keep our bodies and our marriage in good shape. Our hands and hearts touch as we walk and talk about life--how good it has been, and how blessed we are by our love. Sometimes, we encourage each other by pointing out lions and snakes the other might be missing. We leave nothing unsaid, for we never know which walk will be our last.

Death can come at any time. It came quickly for my Dad. The walk down the hospital hall was our last walk together. Shortly after, Dad was peacefully ushered to Heaven by God.

Must be God likes walks too. "I will walk among you and be your God." He says in Leviticus 26:12 (NIV). God walked in the garden with Adam and warned him of snakes. I don't think God ever meant us to take a step without Him. He knows what lies ahead on our trail and he desires to talk to us, bless us, and protect us from lions and serpents. Sometimes He'll pick us up and carry us when we grow weary on the journey. Most important, I don't think there will be any disagreement that the best walk will be that last walk when He ushers His followers to Heaven.

If your dad is still on earth--enjoy a walk with him this Father's Day. Time is too precious to miss out on those memories.