It is the Lord's Day

Yesterday after the Memorial service and burial we went to Jeanette's for a meal. A lovely time together with family and friends. Then twenty-one family members came to my house to see on our oversize screen the movie of Dad's life in pictures created by Faith and her son-in-law Joel.

Today brother David's family and sister Virginia joined us in church. I was so happy they were there! And I was so disappointed the others didn't come. It was so important to have my siblings see my home and come to my church. We've lived apart for so many more years than we lived together. But I think we feel closer to someone when we have an accurate mental picture of the places where they are.

Some left for the airport and the rest of us got together for lunch at Spaghetti Factory and visited at a private table for two hours! David tipped the waitress a second time, because we stayed so long. Then we moved outside and visited another 30 minutes on the steps outside. We promised to get together in two years. We exchanged kisses and hugs several times. It was so hard to say, "Goodbye."

Another treasure in heaven...my Dad

Today was a tearful but sweet day of

remembering my Dad at his funeral.

My Eulogy

Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it Heaven

Of touching a hand, and finding it God's

Of breathing new air, and finding it Celestial

Of waking up in Glory, and finding it home.

When you lose one or both parents, and you know they are Christians and with the Lord, why is it so hard? They were old and you know they were so ill they are much better off in heaven. Why do they leave such a void?

It's because they were pillars in your life.

Someone you know often mentioned your name in prayer. Now we must be the ones who pray. We brothers and sisters must follow their example and pray for each other on a regular basis.

Dad's profession as a machinist and machine designer required absolute accuracy. So many of the things I learned were an integral part of who he was: detailed, precise and thorough.

Things my Dad taught me

1. First I learned very quickly it's awfully nice to call someone, "Daddy." I was 14 when he married my mother. I had been raised fatherless, and he filled a huge hole in my heart.

2. Never talk back to your parents.

3. Be frugal. Use what you have on hand.

4. If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when will you have time to do it over? Don't do a sloppy job.

5. He led the family in a devotional and prayer almost every morning at the breakfast table.

6. Leftovers were passed around the table about three times before Dad would clean out the dish. We knew he wanted them, but had to convince him we were full.

7. Never be ashamed to talk about Jesus. To anyone. He was a lot like the Apostle Paul who said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

8. He would engage us kids in word games and sing in harmony on vacation trips which always involved hours and hours traveling by car.

9. How to do everything "just a little bit better." Don't settle for mediocrity.

10. Use your gifts to help other people. He never visited us at our homes without fixing or building something. He liked to keep busy.

11. Tithe generously. He tithed 20% of his income. When I was in high school I earned a free week at Bible camp by memorizing 120 verses over several weeks. Dad insisted on paying for the camp anyway just to be helpful to them.

12. Apparently, it's okay to sleep in church :) He was ALWAYS dozing off.

The Bible in his coffin is open to Job 19: 25-27: "I know my Redeemer liveth, and He shall stand at last on the earth. And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me."

My deep love for the Lord is a direct result of the influence of my mother and father's example and what they taught me.

I love you, Daddy.

Family Reunion

Most of the family has arrived and we went to dinner.

The eldest, Dave, his wife Deon

and son Daryl from Arkansas and Texas

The next eldest, Dwight and his wife Mary from Virginia

Next comes Duane and his fiance Mary from New Mexico.

It's so nice to see him in love again

after his wife of many years passed away three years ago.

And my little sister Faith and her husband in the background.

They arrived at the restaurant

after a 20-hour drive from Seattle, Washington.

She said, "No closeups until tomorrow."

Doggie Day Care

I didn't take my camera when I dropped Duchess off at the dog groomer. What was I thinking, going somewhere without my camera!

Yes, I went to a dog groomer. Not my style. I hate paying $40 for a doggie hairdo. BUT, Duchess has been neglected (that would be by ME...have you ever seen a man groom a dog?!?) She was full of tangles and snarls that I couldn't comb out.

Anyway, this groomer has really gone upscale since I was last there. They added a doggie candy/cookie counter (they DID look tempting, but I'm on a diet. Oh wait! They're for the dog!), a play-date area where the dogs can socialize, and doggie daycare: people bring their dogs there while they are at work.

What?!? You have to pay so your dog can socialize? My poor little deprived pooch was not signed up for that. They could tell I was the frugal type (I haven't had her groomed in three years...they looked it up!) so she didn't get the pretty little doggie bows on each ear, but a little triangle "cowboy" scarf around her neck.

BEFORE

(little eyeballs)

She looks like a little old man with a mustache.

AFTER her Extreme Makeover

(huge eyeballs)

She definitely looks like a lady

deserving of the name: Duchess Gwendolyn

And so it continues...

I am so moved by the loving care of my Christian friends. Instead of bringing food they all helped me get my house ready for company. Much better than food to my way of thinking.

This is the Harris family.

The three girls have been my students for many years.

They are like part of the family.

Terra on the high ladder is the mom.

She's cleaning cobwebs from a high shelf.

Why do builders put in high shelves? They are a nuisance to clean.

Kiersten, holding the ladder, is a graduating senior this year.

She is studying with me to be a piano teacher.

Courtney, the "middle child" is cleaning the fake plants that go in baskets on the shelves.

Here are the clean shelves, clean plants, clean baskets,

with little lights to brighten up the upstairs landing.

This is Kelsie, the youngest.

She's cleaning the music storage area behind the pianos.

Thank you, Harris family.

Your kindness has given me real peace of mind.

HUGE thanks...

I have the BEST piano mothers!!!

I've worked 5 out of 6 weekends in a row on piano evaluations.

At the end of the sixth weekend, my Dad passed away.

I'm going to be having a houseful of company this weekend,

and no time to clean beyond the surface.

On Tuesday Sheryl (Madeline's mom)

came and washed shelves of my pantry and made it tidy.

Today, Denise (Kelly & Aric's mom, and she takes lessons also)

organized my upstairs bookshelf. No more piles!

Then there's Beth!, pictured below (Andrew & David's mom). She and I made a pact two weeks ago to clean our houses together so we could visit and make it fun. It just turns out she had prescheduled to come THIS WEEK, not knowing I would be so busy planning my father's memorial service with my siblings, planning the big meal afterward and other meals, writing my eulogy, planting flowers in the garden, etc. amid a flurry of phone calls of well wishers and siblings planning.

Anyway, Denise was here with Beth and we decided to make it an ongoing three-some cleaning group. We talked and laughed and cleaned and finally ate a late lunch (Beth is a tough task-master). She can do anything: repair my door handle, glue a piece of trim back on my dresser, and work like a slave!!

Thanks, girls. You are a life-saver!

Getting ready...

The family is coming from around the U.S.

for Dad's memorial service on Saturday,

so I bought some flowers to put along the new fence

to brighten the backyard.

These dwarf sunflowers were just being delivered to the nursery

and were a good deal at $4.95 for a large pot.

These blue delphiniums were also just delivered

and a good deal at $4.95 for a large pot.

I love delphiniums. I don't know if the fence will burn them

or protect them from the summer heat.

The ranunculus are also a favorite

and were priced as expected at $1.99 for a small pot.

These nemesia will double in size and are graceful looking yet hardy.

But they were $3.50 for the same size pot as the ranunculus.

Now I'm thinking to myself, "That's just wrong!"

I asked the sales girl why they were so expensive. She didn't know. So I pointed out the large plants priced at just $4.95 and the other small plant for $1.99. I said this size isn't worth more than $1.99 and asked, "May I please get them for $1.99 if I buy ten?" She had to check with her manager, then came back and said, "Yes, we'll give them to you for that price."

This kind of thing drives Roxanne and Eric just nuts!! But what's the worst that could happen? Would they run me out of the store? No. Would they yell at me? No. The worst thing is they could say, "No, I'm sorry we cannot lower the price." I can accept "no" for an answer. So I got a good deal just for asking.

The other day Roxanne and Grant were in a fast food drive-through and RC asked for something extra. Grant called her "Jack Box Nana" because I always request my drink without ice (I don't want to pay for a cup of ice and hardly any drink) and I request my sandwich without mayonnaise (less calories). The sales people never complain, but my family gets so embarrassed and says, "Nana! We can't take you anywhere!" But you don't get what you want if you don't ask. :)