It is 12:05am on the morning of my 31st birthday. My mother is funny, she has become a fan of the face book and any time one of 'the kids' has a birthday, we are showered with a day of 'tags' and posts of wonderful pictures that haunt our past. So today my mom posted this picture of me with that wonderful hair cut and my Daddy with those incredible glasses...and the best part is it is only 12:20 and I have 23 hours and 40 minutes left of pictures.
But this is my Daddy. I would like for you to meet him. He is the warmest, kindest, best hugger guy you will ever meet (besides my husband). He gave EVERYTHING of himself and asked for nothing in return. I know that my older siblings have their stories and memories but here are mine. We are in Springfield Missouri and my father a pastor of a little church called Eagle Heights Assembly of God. He was also a teacher at Evangel college and ran an inner city Sidewalk Sunday School program called His Kids. He was a busy man, sought after by many and loved by all. If you ask anyone that knew him, they were blown away by his gentle spirit. He LOVED to preach and teach. And he LOVED children. I know this is where I got my love for kids. I remember every Thursday afternoon when we did visitations to some of the homes of the children that came to His Kids. Sitting in rooms where there was nothing but mattresses laying on the floor and bugs crawling everywhere. Many times I left with a head full of lice, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I saw my dad love Jesus and love people.
This life went on for ten years till we moved to St. Louis. At this time my life was consumed with sports. I can hear his voice now as he instructed me on how to hit a softball. "If your gonna swing, then swing through the ball. None of this checking stuff" he would say. Say? No more like scream from behind the backstop. :) What can I say, he was an amazing baseball pitcher (or so I was told, lol) and I was living his dream. I remember playing catch with him during my brothers baseball game and as I stretched back to throw the ball, not noticing he turned his head, I let it fly. Screaming, "watch out Dad!! (which is so wrong cause he didn't need to watch, he needed to duck) I watched as the baseball crushed his nose and more blood than I have seen, was gushing out his nose. He remained calm. He didn't want to scare me. And in my tears, and his blood, he made sure that I was alright. See the black eyes in this picture? Yeah, I did that. :)
I remembered the day I called him to tell him that I gave up my college scholarship and was heading home. I was so sure that my Dad was going to be so disappointed. But I just remember the three words that makes everything okay "I Love You."
But the best memory by far is this photo. I was blessed and honored to have had the chance for my father to walk me down the aisle. He was nervous, I was nervous. What many people don't know, is he was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. The thought of having to remember to say "Her mother and I" was wearing on him. Right before we left the door, he asked me again to remind him. When we got to the front, and as he handed me to Mark, the words were gone and he stumbled through what to say. But you know what? If everything would have gone smooth, I don't know if I would have remembered that moment. We laughed at the time, and I still laugh now.
So I know that it is my birthday, and making a post about my dad is weird. But I think of it as this... he had a part in making it my birthday so I can write about him, lol. :) My dad is 2000 miles from me, in a home, with severe Alzheimer's. This horrible disease has left him speechless. I haven't been able to talk to him now for over a year and a half. But I thank Jesus every day that he is my dad. I love him so much.
I still contend for his healing. And I know that he is proud. And I know he gives me his blessing in moving to Vietnam. And I know if he could come he would. And I know he wants me to carry on his dream of rescuing children.
Hey Daddy,
I miss you so much. I miss your hugs, your voice, your wisdom. I am sorry that you are going through this. I am praying for you everyday. I am moving to Vietnam, there are some pretty bad things going on over there and I have to make it stop. Thanks for training me. I love you.
Your Little Girl.
But this is my Daddy. I would like for you to meet him. He is the warmest, kindest, best hugger guy you will ever meet (besides my husband). He gave EVERYTHING of himself and asked for nothing in return. I know that my older siblings have their stories and memories but here are mine. We are in Springfield Missouri and my father a pastor of a little church called Eagle Heights Assembly of God. He was also a teacher at Evangel college and ran an inner city Sidewalk Sunday School program called His Kids. He was a busy man, sought after by many and loved by all. If you ask anyone that knew him, they were blown away by his gentle spirit. He LOVED to preach and teach. And he LOVED children. I know this is where I got my love for kids. I remember every Thursday afternoon when we did visitations to some of the homes of the children that came to His Kids. Sitting in rooms where there was nothing but mattresses laying on the floor and bugs crawling everywhere. Many times I left with a head full of lice, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I saw my dad love Jesus and love people.
This life went on for ten years till we moved to St. Louis. At this time my life was consumed with sports. I can hear his voice now as he instructed me on how to hit a softball. "If your gonna swing, then swing through the ball. None of this checking stuff" he would say. Say? No more like scream from behind the backstop. :) What can I say, he was an amazing baseball pitcher (or so I was told, lol) and I was living his dream. I remember playing catch with him during my brothers baseball game and as I stretched back to throw the ball, not noticing he turned his head, I let it fly. Screaming, "watch out Dad!! (which is so wrong cause he didn't need to watch, he needed to duck) I watched as the baseball crushed his nose and more blood than I have seen, was gushing out his nose. He remained calm. He didn't want to scare me. And in my tears, and his blood, he made sure that I was alright. See the black eyes in this picture? Yeah, I did that. :)I remembered the day I called him to tell him that I gave up my college scholarship and was heading home. I was so sure that my Dad was going to be so disappointed. But I just remember the three words that makes everything okay "I Love You."
But the best memory by far is this photo. I was blessed and honored to have had the chance for my father to walk me down the aisle. He was nervous, I was nervous. What many people don't know, is he was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. The thought of having to remember to say "Her mother and I" was wearing on him. Right before we left the door, he asked me again to remind him. When we got to the front, and as he handed me to Mark, the words were gone and he stumbled through what to say. But you know what? If everything would have gone smooth, I don't know if I would have remembered that moment. We laughed at the time, and I still laugh now.So I know that it is my birthday, and making a post about my dad is weird. But I think of it as this... he had a part in making it my birthday so I can write about him, lol. :) My dad is 2000 miles from me, in a home, with severe Alzheimer's. This horrible disease has left him speechless. I haven't been able to talk to him now for over a year and a half. But I thank Jesus every day that he is my dad. I love him so much.
I still contend for his healing. And I know that he is proud. And I know he gives me his blessing in moving to Vietnam. And I know if he could come he would. And I know he wants me to carry on his dream of rescuing children.
Hey Daddy,
I miss you so much. I miss your hugs, your voice, your wisdom. I am sorry that you are going through this. I am praying for you everyday. I am moving to Vietnam, there are some pretty bad things going on over there and I have to make it stop. Thanks for training me. I love you.
Your Little Girl.
So beautiful, Jess. Your comments about your father brought me to tears. As you know, my dad also had this terrible disease, and there are many bittersweet moments to remember. Now, well, you know what's going on now in my husband's life. Thank you for honoring your dad in this way. Love you!
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