Sometimes I still see Him

How can it be that sometimes I still see my dad...or rather a part of him?

The week of "Dad's Decision" family came and spent time at the house with us. One of those people was Bridget with her son, Jackson. He was only a month old. But somehow, for some reason, I think there must have been a connection made with my dad and Jackson. The first one to notice it was Wayne...Jacksons Great Grandpa and my dad's brother. Sometime after my dad passed Wayne said there a certain look that Jackson made that made him see Marv. Then others started seeing it too.

My brother was at Wayne and Rosie's when Jackson was 8 months old. Marvin made a loud laugh and Jackson gave him the Marv Look.....a steely eyed stern look. He just kept looking at Marvin with that look....Dad's look. It is unmistakable when you see it.

There are other times when Jackson grins and I see my dad's grin.

Then there was today... Wayne and Rosie were having a cookout and I took Dohe over there with me. Jackson was in his stroller and I put Dohe up close to him. Jackson reached for Dohe's face with both hands. He laughed and just held Dohe. Then he leaned in and softly hugged Dohe. I could almost hear Jackson sigh. It felt like he knew this dog....just like my dad knew this dog.
I wonder how long we will be able to see this connection? It is something that makes you stop and say, " Did you see that? That looked like Marv! "








Jackson and Marv

great, great nephew

Inch by Inch

After Dad had his leg removed below the knee he was in a nusing home for 3 months. He did everything he could to get stronger so he could go back home.

After losing his leg I went to a ladies house to complete a painting I was doing for her. As I worked on the painting we talked about teaching children at church. I was interested in all she had to say. We connected. She said that she had wrote a some songs for children and she started singing this song for me....

Inch by inch, like a little inch worm, gettin where I need to get

Inch by inch, like a little inch worm, gettin where I need to get

Sometimes I want to take a great big step.

But Jesus says, Wait, no not yet.

Cause sometimes inchin is in his plan

And I can be happy where I am.

Inch by inch like a little inch worm, gettin where I need to get.

Inch by inch, like a little inch worm I'm gettin where I need to go.

Well, as soon as she sang sometimes I want to take a great big step...but Jesus says...Wait no not yet...I started crying because I felt like this was a song for my dad. This was to be his theme...inch by inch...one step at a time. I felt like I had met this lady just so that I could hear this song. She touched over lives with one little song that made a big difference. I printed this song for my dad and it was near his doorway where he could read it daily.

Until the end that was my Dad's theme song. At first it was inch by inch for healing. Then it was inch by inch for getting out of the nursing home. (He got to be home for 3 months.) Then it was our theme song for getting closer to heaven. I sang it to him often. I sang it to him our last night together. He would watch me as I sang it, sometimes with a smile, sometimes with a tear. I think he saw me as his little girl when I sang it. What a wonderful memory.

The day I went back to work at the flower shop after Dad's passing I recieved a sign. As I put a red bow in a flower arrangement I saw a little inch worm inching along the bow. In December!!! God does send signs--all is well, Dad is good, He made it there. A real live inch worm was there for me to see and be amazed by God's love for me!

"Sowers" and Rainbows

Kayla had a connection to her great grandpa, "Sowers", since she was born. She knew instinctively when someone would need comfort and cuddle with them. We would bring her every Wednesday to have lunch with "Sowers" and Great Grandma. He gave her the first graham cracker she ate. So he was her "Graham-Pa" When she was able to talk Kayla called him "Sowers"

When she got a front tooth knocked out when she was 3. "Sowers" put black tape over his front tooth so they would look alike.

When she learned to walk he would take her by the hand. Later when he had trouble walking she would take him by the hand and say, "I'll help you"

She watched out for her "Sowers" She loved her "Sowers"

The day Sowers passed Kayla was watching for a sign from God that Sowers was there. We told her sometimes you don't get a sign. But God knew she needed this. And to our surprise in minutes after asking Kayla recieved her sign. A rainbow in the sky. That is what she had ask God for. Not only was there one, there were 2 rainbows in the sky. Her "Sowers" was there.

Kayla asked us, "Can Sowers make rainbows now?" We said "N0, but he can ask God to." And thank God he made a rainbow for Kayla just when she needed a sign from Sowers.

Kayla has been very happy to see many rainbows this year. She knows "Sowers" is watching over her. Kayla's Rainbow on day that "Sowers" passed

November 26, 2008

Remembering

This was the day for our "Sowers Picnic".
The family gathered at Forsyth Park on this beautiful Saturday. It was a warm summer day with a nice breeze. We couldn't have ask for a better day.
What a grand family we have.
We gathered together.
There were aunts and uncles.
There cousins and great cousins.
There were sons and grandsons.
There were daughters and granddaughters.
There were brothers and sisters.
There was me and Dohe.
And then.....there was Mom.

Not much was said of the one that was not there.

Although...there was an extra hug or two
and I may have seen a tear
and there was "how are You"
and there were thoughts of him.

Really not much was said of the one that was not there.

The one who was the oldest brother, who was not there
The one who was the grandfather, who was not there.
The one who was the husband, who was not there.
The one who was my father, who was not there.

Really not much was said of the one who was not there.

But that is alright....
because we know where he is.
We know he is surrounded by love.
We know he is in Glory.
We know and we are at peace.



I remember you today, Daddy.

Dohe know how to climb...yes, he do !

Kayla had just said It is Aug 12 and I saw 12 falling stars and it is 12:00
Then Dohe started barking at the back fence...I think there has been a raccoon bothering him. Just as I headed to the fence to check it out. He jumped high and started climbing the 8 foot fence!!! I got to him as he got to the top. Just as I started to grab him he let go. He fell 8 feet to ground and landed on his jaw with his skinny front legs crumpled beneath him. Oh My God!!! He did not cry. He was stunned. He could not stand. He couldn't put down his front legs. His eyes pleaded with me to help him. He pushed into me and I held onto him. I thought he broke his leg. And then I thought his jaw was broke too.
Kayla started crying. I started praying, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
We headed into the house so we could see.
Kayla said what do we do and I said Pray. I kept it calm for Kayla.
I told her to get the phone book and we would look for an emergancy number for the vet. I continued to pray.
When I sat down on the floor with him his eyes were dilated and glassy. He could not stand. His legs were going in different directions. His ears were flipped oddly. Then he started shaking all over. Lord, I knew he going into shock.
I kept saying his name and praying in the name of Jesus.
Kayla called Cindy and they were both crying.
Finally after (I think 15-20 minutes) he stopped shaking. And was able to stand. And then his eyes began to come into focus. Then he did a shake of his body and hugged into my lap. I kept making him stand until he was solid. And then he went and got a drink of water. He is fine. I did not have to call a vet after midnight.
Thank God. Thank God
Now he better not try to climb that fence again!!!! He seriously had his paws at the top of that fence. Kayla said he probably won't remember how much that hurt since it about knocked him out.
I always knew if he wanted out of the fenced in yard he could do it. I expected the side fences that are 4 feet tall...not the 8 foot fence!

Anyway, that was pretty much the end of our star watching night.
Kayla saw 12 on Aug 12 by 12:00 and then....by 12:30 all was better.
Thank God. Thank God.

(Note added Sat, Aug 15...I saw what Dohe was after. It is a possum crossing on top of the fence.)

Wish upon a Star

Lord, I wish upon a star

for all my friends

so near and far.

Lord, upon my heart

their cares do lay.

And on this night

to You I pray.

Lord, surround them with

your love and care.

And in their need

may you be there.

Lord, please shine

as brightly as the star

so that they may know

that there you are.

Lord, I wish upon a star

for all my friends
so near and far.

By Sheryl,With Love and Prayers

Who I am Thankful For

( I called my blog site Remembered Blessings because there were so many wonderful things that happened with my Dad's last week on earth. I want to write about those things. And instead my first blog was about my insecurities....actually laziness. So now I want to share a Blessing.....)

Kayla, 10 years old, had an assignment for 5th grade. It was the week of Thanksgiving and she was to write about someone she was thankful for....this is the week my dad made his decision to stop diaylsis after 10 long years. She has always had a special connection with my dad, her great grandpa. So she choose to write about him and she got to read it to him in his last days. Tears were shed and love was shared.

Who I am Thankful For

By Kayla

I am thankful for my Great Grandpa Sowers because he taught me how to be respectful and he is brave and strong. I love him so much. He loves me too. He served during the Koren War. He was also a military policeman with the Army in Germany. He was the leader of a motorcycle gang. That's probably what made him so strong and brave! He is a big fisherman and he loves dogs very much. He can fix anything or solve problems. He is the proud parent of 2 kids, 4 grandkids, and 6 great grandkids. He loves his wife very much. Her name is Evelyn Sowers. I am thankful for her too! Those are some of the reasons I'm thankful for my Great Grandpa Sowers!

Great Grandpa Sowers and KK