My STRONG Dad

Well today was a sad and happy day. It's odd to have those words come out of my mouth but it's the truth. It's sad that a wife lost her husband, children lost their father, grandchildren lost their papa, a brother& a sister lost a brother, nieces&nephews lost an uncle and friends lost a friend. We are sad for what was and what could have been. The happy is HEAVEN!!! Need I say more - but you know I will. It is a wonderful place and yes we did sing that song to him, ha! Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace, I wanna see my Saviors face cause Heaven is a wonderful place. You should be VERY happy that there isn't sound to this blog because I DO make a joyful "noise".

I must say that my Dad was a Major in the United States Army and I am very proud that he served our country. He gave a lot and the Army took a lot from my Dad. At the young age of 17 it took his innocence and the horror of war, took part of his heart.

My Dad was 80 years old and if I could use 1 word to describe him it would be STRONG. He made it through 2 wars, raising 8 children, alcoholism and a dreadful disease that robbed him of the last 5 years of his life. He was a man that 2 wars, changed him ~ He was a strong man who's children, challenged him ~ He was an addicted man that was brave enough to give up something that bound him for many years ~ He was a sick man that fought the fight and didn't give up. His body gave up but he never did!! I had the honor of staying with my Dad the 1st night that he was in the hospital (Sunday night). Me and Tricia took the 1st shift and then me & Toni stayed through the night. It was a tough 13 hrs. sitting in arms reach of my STRONG Father. Who always had a tough exterior. Something happened to me that night and I am so grateful to the Lord. I began to see my Father as a weak, vulnerable, human being that was flawed just like the rest of humankind. The Lord began to do a work in me that to be honest - was needed. You see I was the 6th daughter, born in 1965. I was a toddler when my Dad came home from Vietnam for the 2nd time and when he came home he wasn't the same as he was when he left. That's the way life goes. Some say it's unfair and some say it sucks but I say I am the woman I am because of the Mother and Father that raised me. I may not be perfect but I like me. I like the things that I have overcome and I like the things I still must overcome. I like the strong headed woman I am and I like the soft/submissive woman I have become. I got some good qualities from my Dad and some not so good qualities from my Dad. I think I have discovered today that my journey isn't quite over and will never be with my Dad. I am praying for God's eyes in situations that I have walked through and His heart where my heart got wounded.

So Dad - your suffering has come to an end ~ your suffering was unbearable sometimes, I'm sure!! My STRONG Dad that was really a broken, wounded boy. So many dreams of mine died this afternoon but the Lord is faithful to make beauty out of ashes. You see you never stop wanting the love from your Father. I'm still that same little girl that reached up to him when he came home from war and he just couldn't reach back. Maybe it was guilt that he was alive and happy and so many were dead. I don't know the answers but 1 thing I do know is my STRONG Dad loved me. He loved me the best way he knew how. I thank God for the love of my heavenly Father that can show me my Fathers love.

I want to write about the legacy that my Dad left behind. He left behind 8 children, 7 daughters and 1 son. He left 28 GRANDchildren and 5 GREATgrandchildren and 1 on the way! If I had a million years I could NEVER tell you how WONDERFUL my siblings are! It may sound dramatic but if you knew them you would be SO jealous that they aren't your siblings. Our spouses are BEYOND wonderful and I really can't begin to tell you how amazing all of his grandchildren/greats are!! This man, my Dad, had a family that people MARVEL over. If I have heard it once I have heard it 200 times - your family is so rare, everyone loves Jesus, you love each other so much, you honor your parents, how did you all have such wonderful kids, all your siblings have wonderful marriages, you're so close/that's rare - and the comments go on and on!!! I don't know WHY I was picked to be in such a wonderful family. 1 of my brother-in-laws said today that he is honored to have been chosen to be apart of our family. It's rare and I don't take it for granted!! I thank my Father for having a part to play in who these 50+ people are. My Dad had a wife, Patsy, that we will forever be grateful to. She has taken care of my Dad through some very tough years. She has many jewels in her crown and I don't know if it will be to heavy for her to wear.

So, I'm happy tonight and sad. I thank GOD he isn't in his beat up ole earth suit any longer. He is breathing heaven's air and not oxygen out of a tank. He's probably made it to the throne of God by now and will continually praise the Father! He got welcomed to heaven by his parents and some of his siblings. I have a baby that I lost that is there and I'm sure my Dad is introducing himself to him/her. I know my Dad will be some kind of Major in heaven. He will have some little army to attend to. We told him today that he needs to remember that the Lord is in charge up there because HE is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I'm sure my Dad will welcome the break. I thank God for my strong Dad and I know that it will be in the blink of an eye and we will be together again. I love you Dad!

Here is a picture of my Dad with almost all of his legacy sitting around him. Well the grands and greats. He was VERY proud of them all.