Sunday, June 21, 2009

My Dad, My Hero...

My Dad. The best father any girl could ask for. A man with a tremendously funny sense of humor. A many who works harder than anyone I know. A man who serves unceasingly everyone around him. A man who rarely complains. A man who loves and serves his wife faithfully. A very intelligent man who knows a lot about a lot, and is like a walking encyclopedia. He knows everything from what the weather was like on June 4, 1973, to how the migration of hummingbirds affects world climate. A man who is humble before God. A man I hope my boys grow up to be like. The man I have been blessed beyond measure to call my Dad....


This is a RARE (and I do mean rare) shot of my Dad actually relaxing. Dad - Danny and I really do miss having coffee and chatting with you in the mornings!!!

Dad, always hard at work, as you will see in the following pictures. Here he is drilling holes for maple syrup this past winter. Is there such thing as an electric drill that could do this? Sure! But Dad will always choose the harder way, just to get more exercise!!


Part of the wood pile he first created by cutting with a hand saw, and what he later hauled away or burned as he cleared our woods. (Could he have used a chain saw? Sure! But what fun and exercise would there be in that?? haha)



More wood....


Dad works hard, but enjoys life as well. Here he is with Mom at Mt. Vernon. He is still a young man who will do fun things and is FUN to be around!! Most people cannot believe that he is 71 - he doesn't seem like it at all - he really has the strength and stamina of a much younger man.



A loving grandpa saying goodbye to his grandson as they moved away...



Mom and Dad had their own cleaning business for many years. Oh yeah, this is AFTER he retired from a career in the government and worked at other jobs as well... Dad will work hard until the day he leaves this earth. A quality to be much admired. I tell him this all the time - great is his reward in heaven!!



One of the 350 moves he has helped his kids with!! Honestly, we all can say that we don't know what we would have done without him on all of the moves we have made. And he never complained - he was just there, doing all the dirty work, cleaning out crumb-filled drawers, hauling stuff to the dump, doing WHATEVER needed to be done.



Aaahhh, a sweet shot.... what a loving grandpa he is.



Like I said, Dad can really have fun as well. He loves my mom so much it brings tears to my eyes. He has always loved her and been affectionate with her as long as I can remember. I always say that my mom is very lucky to have married a man like him.


Love this one!


This Grandpa has been so faithful to attend his grandchildren's events - this is a family night at History Camp. It was hot and sticky, but Dad was there!!



Serving the Bodine family - building a kitchen table so they can fit all nine of their children at the table and eat dinner together.


Painting with Jacob in our back yard.


Building a fire for maple syrup



Hmmmm.... what can I say about this shot?? Well, it certainly isn't an autobiography!! haha
Dad, I cannot thank you enough for being the man that you are, and for loving and serving and teaching me so faithfully all my life. You are truly one of my biggest encouragers - always telling me how special I am, or how funny you think I am (and nobody else in the whole world thinks I am funny!). I always feel your unconditional love for me, and I cannot tell you how much that means to me. Thank you for being so kind, so sweet, so humble, so fun to talk to, and for making me laugh! I am the luckiest girl alive...
Happy Fathers Day!!!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Moving Day


There is a reason I haven't posted anything this week. One that, fortunately, doesn't look QUITE like this picture! haha
Danny's office is moving to a newly constructed building today and the CRAZINESS that has led up to it has been unbelievable. He has worked long hours, he has hardly slept, and the stress has been at a record high. He has been in charge of finishing the buiding as well as preparing the old office for the move as well as doing his own job! The kids and I have tried to help and support him as much as we can, but there is little we can practically do. Please pray for strength and peace for my husband - we would greatly appreciate that!
I will update later with pictures of the new digs - it is an amazing new building!!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

The Mercies of God


I read something today that totally convicted me of the complaining heart and lack of contentment that I sometimes feel. From John Flavel:
"Consider your spiritual mercies and priviliges with which the Lord Jesus has invested you, and complain at your providential lot if you can. One of these mercies alone has enough in it to sweeten all your troubles in this world. Consider also your sins, and that will make you contented with your lot. Consider what your sin deserves from God - eternal ruin. Consider how near you are to the change of your condition. Have but a little patience, and all will be as well with you as your hearts can desire.
It is no small comfort to the saints that this world is the worst place that they shall ever be in; things will get better every day with them. If the traveller has spent all his money, yet it does not much trouble him if he knows himself to be within a few miles of his home. If there are no candles in the house, we do not much trouble over it if we are sure it is almost break of day; for then there will be no use for them. This is the case with us' 'for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.'"