My Dad died this morning at 11:30 a.m. My Mom was at his side. He lived a long life, he just turned 89 years old but the last few years he was not healthy and dementia was eroding his mind. Tim and I arrived at the facility where they live just 10 minutes after he died. That was hard for me. I wish so much that I had known he was so close to death so we would have arrived earlier. I’ve learned over and over that regret is not helpful but this one was hard to swallow…

My Dad was a good man, sometimes a difficult relationship for me since we were alike and different all rolled together, yet he was faithful to all of his family and to God. He worked many years for the Michigan State Highway Department. He knew trees, he knew how to grow vegetables, mowed many people’s lawns including our family’s huge one, fixed cars and roofs, had a big workbench with many, many tools, was a hunter (of deer, sometimes squirrels and rabbits), attended the Christian Reformed Church faithfully SUNDAY morning and Sunday evening, and was a radio operator for the U.S. Navy stationed in New York. He and my Mom traveled to Tucson, Arizona many years in his retirement to volunteer for the Wycliffe Bible Translators. One of those winters Tim and I went to visit he and my Mom and while there Tim made this drawing of him. We were never sure what he thought of the drawing, he was not quick to give comments, especially praise! But I think he did like it. He was proud, stubborn, strong, and good. I loved him.