Good morning everyone. This is not an exclamation point day. I am feeling a little melancholy as I was looking at photos from my father's funeral. It was lovely. We were well cared for and well fed. We saw some very old friends, lots of current friends and family, and each other's friends. We gave him a good send off. I will write more below. Meanwhile, my house is a mess and it is time to get back to the living and that means homemaking. Visit Sandra for more Happy Homemaker Monday and lots of inspiration.
The Weather
It is very humid today and warm, but gray and dreary. The sky is getting brighter so I am hoping to see some sun. I would like to stop by Dad's grave sometime soon but it looks like rain all week, hopefully leaving us with a beautiful Memorial Day weekend.
Right Now
I have a load of laundry going, I have a very messy house around me, but it is quiet as I am the only one home. The dog is sleeping downstairs, the cat is sleeping somewhere in the house, and I hear the washing machine and a few birds outside.
Thinking
About my dad and his amazing life. He did not have an easy time of it. He had some depression and anxiety and a terrible temper in his younger years. As a child I was afraid of him. He never hurt me - I just got an occasional spanking - but I was afraid of that temper. But, with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as I grew older I was able to feel and give forgiveness to him, and he deserved it. He was our biggest advocate, and cared for the friendless. His biggest concern was for the one who needed it most, and he always understood and never judged.
He was a musician - he played rhythm guitar, but his voice was his true instrument. He started out in rockabilly and cut a record with MGM in New York City. It made the top 20, but I am not sure which year. He then turned to country music and cut an album in Nashville when I was about 4 years old. He decided not to pursue a career, however, because he did not want to put in his dues to establish himself at the risk of his family. He did have a band, however, and played weekends at various places near home for years. My mom played bass guitar and sang with him. He even made it into the Country Music Hall of Fame in our state. For awhile he was a deejay at a couple of local radio stations, and met some big names in country music such as Barbara Mandrell, but he eventually became an insurance agent, which is what he did until he retired.
In spite of his colorful life, he recently told my husband that he got the most satisfaction from his insurance career because he was able to help people when they really needed it.
We celebrated his legacy at his funeral. My daughter sang Amazing Grace as my son and nephew accompanied her on my father's guitars. My nephew played and sang Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Both my youngest son and my daughter played the piano. His musical talents skipped a generation, but all of his grandchildren are musical and/or artistic.
On My Reading Pile
The book of Revelation.
On My TV
Finishing up Glee, Madmen season 5, and nothing new. We have The Iron Lady and What Dreams May Come from Netflix. My kids are thrilled that we started Netflix streaming again: two have started watching Dr. Who and my oldest can start up American Horror Story again.
What I Found While Surfing the Net
Side B of Dad's MGM record (which is better than side A):
And with the help of my son, I have started putting up my dad's album, one song at a time:
On the Menu
I want to copy Sandra's menu, it looks delicious, but here is mine:
Monday pasta, salad, bread
Tuesday chicken in gravy on egg noodles, peas, salad
Wednesday kielbasa, beans, potato salad
Thursday pork roast, roasted potatoes, green beans
Friday tacos, rice, salad
Saturday boys are camping, girls are taking Mom out for her birthday to the Cheesecake Factory!
Sunday chicken soup
On My To Do List
sheets - must wash sheets
pick up
vacuum
bathrooms
tomorrow I go to Mom's to help go through Dad's things
In the Craft Basket
Looking Forward to This Week
Helping mom clean out her house and move on with her life.
Looking Around the House
is not pleasant at the moment.
From the Camera
Dad attributes the turning around of his life to his time in the Air Force. He also loved Danny Boy, so we made sure both were present at his funeral.
Two of my sons and my nephew who served as pallbearers:
On My Prayer List
My mom, kids, my cousin whose husband passed away last night from pancreatic cancer, my friends whose mom/grandmother passed away Thursday morning, my girlfriend whose son has a serious brain tumor.
Bible Verse
"...I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die..."
John 11:25-26
Have a great week.
So sorry for your loss! Whenever I hear the bagpipes I think of my Grandfather. He played them for as long as I can remember.
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for you and your mom.
Stopping by via Sandra's blog. I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my father almost 5 years ago and it still hurts and doesn't feel real. I'm praying for healing for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI'm so behind on blog visiting, forgive me :)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss Christy, sounds like you had a beautiful funeral though.
Sending you big hugs!