Trying to update

Back in early November Tim burned the huge pile of rubbish we had collected as we cleaned up around our parent's home.  I didn't get a before picture because by the time I got there he was nearly finished.

 In early November we also began dividing up our parent's belongings.  In this picture Mike debates whether he wants this saw that once belonged to our grandfather.

 We spend two different days deciding what would be ours to keep.  We each picked a number from one to four, number one being first to pick an item, number two picked second and so on.  On the second day we reversed the order.  If you picked number one the first time, now you were number four in the order.  Were there any arguments over who got what?  Truthfully, I would have to say yes.  One such argument was between my oldest brother Mike and my youngest brother Tim.  It went a little something like this:

Tim:  "I'll take Grandpappy's toolbox, unless you wanted it." 

Mike:  "No, you can have it!"

Tim:  "I'm not taking it if you want it!  Really, take it!"

Mike:  "No!  I don't want it if you want it!  You take it!"

Tim:  "Well, what tools do you want from inside?  Pick what you want."

Mike:  "You pick the tools you want first."

Tim:  "No, you pick what you want.  I can take what's left."

I think you get the idea! 

I was thrilled to get my father's wheelbarrow and these four tools leaning up again the garage.  I was just thinking yesterday about the last wheelbarrow ride my father gave me.  He was 70 years old and I was in my early 40's!  Dad wanted to give Kaden a wheelbarrow ride.  Kaden was a toddler and didn't want to go alone so it was suggested that I join him, which I did!  Good memory!

Also in November Kenzie, Kaden and I attended a service at The Lutheran Home in which Pappy was remembered.  That was the second of such services  I attended.

When I think of my father, my heart aches.  If I continue in my thoughts, it's not long before I'm in tears.  As I write this post, it is Christmas Day 2010, the first Christmas without my father.  Still very hard to believe he's gone.  Fortunately, I have a strong testimony in the Plan of Salvation.  I know I'll be together with my parents again one day.  What a joyous reunion that will be!

More on last weekend

Last Saturday was the first of several indoor Bluegrass shows that the Carroll County Ramblers will be hosting.  While Dale plays, I man the food stand.  We usually sell beef vegetable soup, hot dogs, barbecue and desserts.  My children take turns selling soda and water.  Take a look at the  new shirts the band is now wearing! 

When Dale and I were first married and went shopping for clothes for Dale, I would hold up a shirt and ask, "How about this one?"  I was often told, "No.  That shirt is too blue, or that shirt is too green."  Dale's clothes had to be simple and dull in color.  Well, as you can see, that is no longer the case!  LOL!

 Hospice held a special service for families of loved ones that had passed away in the past year.  Since Dad had been on hospice care, we were invited to attend.  Ashton, Kenzie and Kaden came with me.  My brother Mike was also in attendance.  It was held at the Brethren Home.  The service was very nice.  Pictures of those who passed were showing on a big screen with accompanying music as we waited for the service to start.  I held it together through that, but when some woman started singing a song about "... you made me the person I am..." well, that's when the tears started to flow.

We got such a kick out of this sign at the Brethren Home, we just had to take a picture of it!

Speed Awareness Riser... a.k.a. Speed Bump!

My father, a hero?

I suppose every daddy is a hero in the eyes of his daughter.  It wasn't until after my father's death that I learned he was a hero in the eyes of many!

One of my college professors wrote a book on Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS).  Dr. Kreider served in BVS, and so did my mother, father and myself.  He writes about himself and other early Brethren volunteers in his book A Cup of Cold Water.  I came across the book while cleaning off my parent's bookshelf this past Saturday morning.  Dr. Kreider also gave guided bus tours related to Brethren history as they would travel in groups to The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.  My parents participated in several of these tours.  I believe it must have been during one of these conference bus trips that my parents bought the book in which Dr. Kreider autographed personally to my parents.

In the book Dr. Kreider writes about my parents, a story I had never heard before.  There is one mistake:  my mother is from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, not Gettysburg, Ohio.

  Some how my father saved a man from being stabbed by a grape cutting knife.  I wish there were more details.  Looks like I'll have to wait until Dad and I meet again to hear the rest of the story.  One thing I do know:  Yes, my father was a hero, and always will be.

The Interment

Dad's place of burial is in Mohrsville, PA, about one hour and forty five minutes from Gettysburg. We were the first car behind the hearse until the funeral director had to pull over to use the bathroom, then we were the lead car!
Family and friends gather in the Mohrsville Church of the Brethren parking lot.

Pallbearers from left to right: My three brothers, Mike, Tim, Dave, my oldest son Brady, husband Dale and nephew Ridge.

We started out with a little bit of rain, just enough to get on the lens of my camera and mess up my pictures!

Cousins Ridge and CJ

Cousins Kaden and Mitch

My three girls

CJ smells his flower from Pappy's spray of flowers.

The funeral director picked this plaque for on the top of Dad's burial vault... perfect!!

My brother Dave and his daughter Brooke

We were tickled to be able to see the side of Mom's vault so close to Dad's!

Lowering of the vault lid

Bryson
The grandchildren take turns shoveling dirt onto Pappy's grave.

Mitch

Joey

Kenzie

Avery

Brady

Ashton

Kaden was being bashful, so I helped him.

This picture is funny to me! My uncle is a soil scientist. You can see him in the background examining the soil!

When people were no longer watching, then Kaden decided he wanted to throw some dirt onto Pappy's grave.

I love this picture of my parent's final resting place!

I took some of the coxcombs from the arrangement I had been sent and placed them at my parent's graves.

After the interment we all went out to eat at Infinitos.

Cousin Fern is currently in the States from South Korea. Here she is giving each of the kids a Korean coin.Seeing the Korean money was a big hit, especially when everyone got some to keep!

The rain ended early and left us with a very nice day for Dad's burial. Parting with family at the end wasn't too bad knowing we'll see each other in one week for a family reunion.

Dad's funeral

Dad's funeral was held at the Gettysburg Church of the Brethren, the same church he and Mom were married in. The services took place on Saturday, July 31, 2010 The viewing started at 9:30 am and ended when the service started at 11 am. The service lasted well over 1 1/2 hours. Toward the end my oldest brother Mike spoke, giving a beautiful eulogy. My niece Brooke spoke after Mike, making us all laugh with her memories of Nana and Pappy. A friend of the family then said a few words about Dad being her Sunday School teacher and then her employer when she got older. This part of the service was set aside for anyone to speak. My daughter Kenzie, age 10, fully intended to say a few words herself, but because the service lasted far longer than planned, the minister cut it off and Kenzie didn't get her chance.

One of the stories Kenzie wanted to tell was how she spent the night with Pappy shortly after Mom passed away. She had been in bed for some time, but was unable to sleep. She went to Pappy, who was in bed, and told him she couldn't sleep. He said to try again, and then if she still couldn't sleep, to come tell him. After trying again, but still unable to sleep, she went back to Pappy. Kenzie then says, "Pappy got up out of bed and we stayed up the rest of the night playing games!"

Kaden helped carry in the chips for our fellowship meal after the funeral.

At the end of Dad's casket we had a picture of his fourteen grandchildren and his church softball uniform.

Before the viewing was open to the public, a few of the cousins played UNO in the church nursery.

My oldest brother Mike and his wife Lauren.

Second oldest Dave and his wife BrendaYoungest brother Tim and his wife Maria. I'm between Dave and Tim. I had my picture in here too, but it somehow got deleted! Look for it on the next post!

Fellowship meal following the funeral service.My brother Dave and two friends we grew up with in the Gettysburg COB, we attended youth group together.

Because of the traveling distance for the burial, we held that two days later.