My dad's boot

My dad's boot is one of my prized possessions. Seems kinda different, I know. It sits right in the middle of my mom's Fiesta dishes. It warrents a question from a friend every now and then and I am always willing to tell the story of my dad's boot. I sure hope I have this right because my dad is one of 10 siblings. I am sure they will let me know if the story has been passed on wrong!
My dad was a wee little one, probably around 2-3years old. They had gone to Aunt Eddie's (yes, at least that is how it is pronounced)house and were down by the creek. This is a creek that I played in often as child and it swells and runs pretty swift at times. Well, as the story goes, my dad nearly got swept away in the swift creek as he was playing. He was pulled to safety, but lost a boot. The remaining boot always sat on our mantle or somewhere around the house as I was growing up. I love that worn out boot and I am ever so thankful that my dad was pulled to safety as a young tot.

I am also ever so thankful of my perfect memories of my dad. We lost my dad when I was 8 in a coal mining accident. The memories of that day are forever engrained in my mind - memories that we don't have any pictures of, so I am certain that I recall these from memory. I struggle with this because I think many of my other memories are evoked from looking a pictures. My mom was really good about taking pictures and I am thankful for these memories.

It is hard to believe that my dad has been gone for over 20 years, because at times I can recall a soothing smell or even hear the sound of his voice if I think hard enough. I often will see someone who resembles my father. Funny thing is, it doesn't make me sad, it comforts me. How lucky am I that I have perfect memories. You see, I don't remember any shortcomings or bad habits about my dad. He was a hard working man devoted to his family (and I mean the whole family). My dad loved Little League baseball, diet rite, his brown pleather recliner, Chevy trucks, St. Louis Cardinals, his family farm, cutting wood for the winter, vacations in the Smokey Mtns., the Loogootee Lions, playing softball and wresting on the 'red' rug in our living room. He loved my mom and his kids and we knew it.

Next time that loved one drives you crazy, consider the things you'd put in their paragraph - I bet it would look a lot like the things I mentioned about my dad!

My dad's birthday was July 26, wish he'd been here to celebrate...

Take a Walk

So, the other day at the very end of my work day, I had an upleasant experience. I won't go into details, because it doesn't really matter today. What matters is that when I came home, Sam was waiting to see me. He said - mama's here. I would like to say it all melted away at that instant. I was really stressed -so the tears started flowing (again) - and after explaining it to my DH - he says - Why do you let customers treat you that way - be mean back!!!!! Ha, guess he wasn't cut out for customer service. Anyway, I decided that the best solution was a walk. And boy was it. I loaded up Sam into the stroller and we attempted to get a picture kissing. We saw the flowers in our landscaping out front; we stopped to see the walnuts growing on our tree by the drive (thanks to Darrin and Shannon for pointing those out); we checked the mailbox (and then Sam wanted to stop and check everyone else's mail, too); we saw the cows that live across from our house; we turned around when we got to the fox that lives on the fence post; Sam pushed his stroller back up the drive and pointed out the clouds in the sky; And at the end of the driveway was our freshly painted house. Thanks DH for the painted wood siding- it looks so nice and redeems you for not giving me sympathy when I was upset.
The walk in the country worked, even though it was a humid, balmy Indina evening...time spent with Sam in the fresh air cleared the mood. We read books and went to bed!

Aaaahhhhhhh! I wanna come home...

Well, Joe sent me a message that said he was tired of waiting. Well, me too! Right now, my timing and God's timing aren't really meeting where I had thought they might. Guess He is reminding me that He is in control. Pray for news for our son Joseph. Specifically we are waiting on issue of birth certificate, and completition of DNA - then the embassy appt. Thanks.

Ashley