Happy Birthday Patty!

Happy Birthday Sis!
Today is my sister's birthday. You'd never know it from this picture (she is a little older than she looks in this photo), but Patty has been blessed with a wonderful family. No, not me & my brothers (you'll hear more about them later), but her husband, Rick & three beautiful daughters, Heather, Holly & Amanda. Patty & Rick have 2 great son in laws, Jerry & Randy. And a boatload of grandkids, let me see if I get them all. Makena, Derek, Sam, Roman, Josiah & Izabella, I think that's it for now.

I am sure your family will make your birthday special & I wish I was there to celebrate with you!

I know that it will be your first birthday without Dad, just remember how MUCH he & Mom loved us. Their legacy to us was, to model Christ to our family & others. We are a close and tight knit family, because of their example. They lived a life of generosity, they loved giving, whether it was monetary, their time & talent or their love . They loved & cared for others, they did not sit idly by, they were involved in the lives of people. They were examples for all of us. We miss them so much!

Thank you for all the time and energy and love you & your family gave to Mom & Dad in thier last years. They loved you so much and were so grateful.

Have a great day.
I Love you!
Susan

My Dad & Valentine's Day

How appropriate that today is Valentine's Day. My dad loved Valentine's Day! He & my mom were married for 66 year before she died in 2007. He loved telling anyone who would listen how beautiful his Marge was. He ask you, "Isn't she beautiful?" She would always be kind of embarrassed, but I think she loved his sense of romance. He was a special man, my dad. Dad died a month ago today. He lasted 14 months without his bride and missed her everyday.
He never forgot his girls, all of us. He always got my mom the largest card he could find and there was always a gift or flowers or something special. He did special things for my sister, Patty and me too. Sometime he would find a vase and put flowers in them for us. One time he bought these vases at Pic n Save (now known as Big Lots). They were beautiful hand painted (probably in China) and the glass wasn't very thick. He started dropping those glass marbles in and the vases promptly broke in his hands. He was so frustrated, but he preserved and I got my flowers in that beautiful glass vase. I don't remember what the flowers were, but I remember the vase. Some years he gave us plants, sometimes See's Candy(my favorite), but always a card. That's what love is all about, remembering those you love here and the one's who have gone ahead. I miss them both very much.