To the Best Father in the World

I thought about waiting to do this post until I was at home so I could add pictures of my father but I realized that I have sent all my pictures to Salt lake with my brother. I don't want to wait to have them returned so here goes.

As most of you know my father passed from this life and began his new life on October 16. He has been putting up a strong fight for the past six months but as the days and weeks went by, his heart became weaker. In September he told me that he felt like he was living on borrowed time, that he was ready to begin his new life. I told him that we would all miss him but we also understand the plan that has been given to us and would be looking forward to the day that we would be able to be with both he and Mom again. Over the past couple of years we have become closer. Being of service to someone else has a tendency of doing that. He told me so many stories of his childhood and I really need to sit down to a computer and began writing about them before I forget them. Thank goodness Amanda (Tami's daughter-in-law) did sit down with Dad and get a little bit of his history while he could still talk.

My Dad lived a full life with no regrets. I don't think there was anything that he didn't accomplish that he thought about doing. He always worried about spending to much time at work and not with the family. I reassured him several times that what he did was necessary for us to live and that when he did play with us, we had his full attention. When I think about all the places that he has been, 49 states excluding Hawaii because he couldn't drive there, the lower parts of Canada and even into Mexico. He put over three million miles into driving for the church alone. He hauled at least one item for most of the older temples in the United States, as he told me one day as we were preparing for our vacation in San Diego. He hauled the parts for the Baptism font in the San Diego temple to Los Angles. Upon arriving at the temple we were informed that the font was being replaced because of leaks. Such is the way of the world. Even with all the sites that he has seen, his favorite was right here in Emery county. I don't think there are to many around here that knows more about the desert than he did. With Mom on the back of their four-wheeler, they explored. He loved taking others with them explaining all the different things and making sure they appreciated the beautiful as much as he did. We will have the many wood items that he carved, his three trucks, replicas of the trucks he once drove, have become even more valuable. Each of his grandchildren have a cup that he turned on his lathe. The other night as I was in my living room I was reminded of his work as my eye was drawn to the Cedar Chest that he made for Cyrena one year for Christmas. These pieces of art are his legacy. But it doesn't end there. Each of us children received treasures from his hands for Christmas presents. As a child growing up he was taught the value of a piece of wood. He worked hard in the family sawmill located by Blue Lake as others know it, but to us it is Jewkes Lake. Gathering wood each fall to burn throughout the winter is a great family tradition that is going the way of the world. His love though was cutting down the biggest tree and seeing if he could get it rolled onto the truck he modified just for the purpose of hauling wood. He would have the tree milled into lumber that he would use in his projects. Buying lumber was just something he hated to do. None of us will be able to forget the great breakfasts that he would cook for us as we went camping and especially Christmas morning. As my sons served missions or couldn't make it home for Christmas morning, the thing they missed the most was being at Grandpa's and Grandma's for breakfast. We had it all. The past couple of years he had to stop because it became to difficult for him but oh how we all missed it, he being the most. It was a time to see all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved his family and loved having them around him, running, playing, and laughing. A child is to have fun around him, not just sit and be quiet. He received this from his mother.

His life is a testimony to his beliefs. He was always giving service to others and never told anyone no. He never yelled at anyone, if asked for his opinion he would give it but always as counsel, never forcing anyone to believe the way he did even if he could see the errors of our ways. He made friends very quickly and these friends remained that way for the rest of his life as was evident from the viewings. He was an example to all those who know him and to those great grandchildren that are still learning, growing, and coming into this world as they will be able to reflect upon his great life as they read from his history. It is only through these histories that others in the future will know about us and the lives that we have led. I guess that is why I love blogging. At least we are doing a little bit especially for the children that we love to tell others about.

As I was preparing my tribute to him for his funeral I could remember so many stories and my sister and I could have talked hours about him. But since then I have remembered more stories that I wanted to share. An example why he hated chicken so bad, he ate a raw chicken one night while being impatient waiting for it to cook. He ate frog legs, just to see how they tasted, like chicken. He wrecked two family vehicles in a month plus blow the motor in the tractor. I don't know how he lived past those experiences alone. As Paul and I picked up something from Arby's last night I will never forget his favorite #2 with fries and a Coke. It was difficult getting the fries down. Before that it was McDonalds. He knew where every McDonalds was located in the western states while he was driving for the church.

He is a great father and I know that he is with Mom now. They have been apart for to many years. How I'm going to miss him but I know this is how it should be. It is a strange feeling being an orphan, but only on this side of the veil. I know they live and I will be able to be with them again one day. Oh, to see the great reunion that is going on. He felt so bad about not being able to be to his brother's funeral a couple of months ago, now he is with him again. Only in the temple do we get a small glimpse of what it must be like. He has left a great legacy and it is up to each of us to live up to his example. I love you Dad!