Merry Christmas... just a little late

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was different and hard, but we made it through. We decided to skip the big tree this year and just use Dad's tree he used to put up at his office. In true Dad style, even this little tree has a working train around the base.

Titus loves Christmas! He thoroughly enjoys tearing up wrapping paper, tissue paper, boxes, ribbon, etc.

Titus was totally pooped after all the presents were opened. Here he is sleeping with his new bone that our friend Shelly bought him.

In case you're wondering, his leg is bandaged because he has a sore that he just can't seem to leave alone.

One long day

Yesterday seemed like a really long day. The funeral was as wonderful as a funeral can be. Several men gave eulogies, including my brother, and they all did an excellent job of honoring Dad. We also presented a slideshow and sang some great songs. Dad had 272 friends and family at his funeral.

After the funeral, many of us drove out to the mountains and buried Dad in the McCall family cemetery. The McCalls are like family to us and had offered grave sites to Mom and Dad several weeks ago. It's such a beautiful site- very peaceful and quiet.

Then we had a big meal back at the church and went home exhausted. This morning we went back to the grave site and arranged some flowers.

We seem to be holding up pretty well as a family. I'm not sure if things have really sunk in yet, and I know that we have been partially mourning for several months now. We talk about Dad a lot and miss him terribly, but we know he will be spending Christmas with Christ and is in a much better place.

Thank you all for your calls, emails, cards, flowers, etc. It is so great to be surrounded by so many loved ones during this time.

Schedule

Visitation: Monday 5-8pm, French's Mortuary on Lomas
Funeral: Tuesday 10am, Mountainside Church of Christ

Rest in Peace, Sweet Daddy

We all gathered around as Dad took his last breaths yesterday around 1:45pm. Things progressed very quickly and there was little suffering. The rest of the day was spent with dear friends sharing wonderful memories of this precious man. Today we will go and finalize our arrangements, and I will let you all know the details as soon as I can. Thank you for the many emails and calls we have already received. There is definitely no lack of love in this house.

It's not fair!!

I've had several people tell me recently how "it's just not fair what your family is going through." Of course I just nod my head, but here is what I have really been thinking and feeling lately. How many kids never know their dads? How many kids are abused or neglected? I have had the privilege of knowing a wonderful, loving Dad for 28 years. I've also been thinking how my Dad is one of the few people in my life that I would never want to change. I can't think of anything I would change about my Dad (except of course the fact that he has cancer). How many people can you say that about?
God has also been gently reminding me of 2 scriptures: 1 Thes 5:18 and Phil 2:14. "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" and "Do everything without complaining..." Not easy, but I'm trying.
Dad has been home from the hospital since Tuesday night. He is under hospice care now and is pretty much confined to a hospital bed in the living room. He has quite a bit of back pain, but other than that, I think he is pretty comfortable. He barely talks, but he still tries to make us smile. Some things never change.
Specific prayer requests- comfort for Dad, sleep for all of us, guidance for the future.

Our visit to JBU

Well, we got back from our whirlwind trip to Arkansas last night. We had a great visit, but it was packed full of meetings, interviews, presentations, and yummy meals (I had catfish and fried okra for the first time in WAY too long!) Of course my part was easy and all the pressure was on Josh. We feel pretty good about the visit overall. Now we just wait and see if they offer the job. Here are a few pics from our visit.

The greenhouse that Josh would be in charge of.

The science building where Josh would teach and have his office.

Cathedral of the Ozarks- where chapel is held.

JBU