FATHER’S DAY

I’m so thankful for the lessons my earthly father taught me.  I had him until I was 28 years old, which is a blessing because so many people lose their father at a much younger age.  I was married and settled by the time I lost him, but there is still a large empty place in my heart, I must admit.  ❤

FATHER by McKane Davis

BROAD SHOULDERS – bear the weight of our world.

DEEP EYES – the window to a thousand stories.

GIVING HANDS – give charity unnoticed.

STRONG ARMS – protection from our darkest fears.

KIND HEART – of forgiveness, happiness, and love.

How did my father get so smart?  He sought wisdom from the source, God.  I know in life, my daddy knelt in prayer to seek God’s will on everything.  I guess that’s the most important lesson he taught me.  I learned to pray, to seek God’s will and His way throughout my life.  Thank you, daddy, for teaching me to pray!

A father’s love is strong and sure, a quiet kind of care, a haven for his family, a promise to be there.  – Unknown

What a blessing it was to be adopted into the Turner household!  So many adopted people get all hung up over the fact that they are adopted, but I just remember that God had a plan, and me being with them was a significant part of His overall plan for my life.  I wouldn’t change a thing even if I could. 

WHAT DID YOU GIVE ONE LITTLE GIRL?  A popular game or expensive toy?  A Campfire Girl uniform, a Barbie doll?  Oh these things are fine and so much fun, but is that all?  Surely there was more to raising your adopted daughter than that.

Did you give her a real live pet, perhaps a cat!? If she had to choose what she wanted more than these, she would spend the day, the entire day with her daddy, together down on their knees:  praising the Savior, praising the King, for all of their blessings, for every little thing!

There were teachable moments, there were life lessons learned; these were the rewards of living, yes, they had to be earned.  Many crowns you received in heaven when your life was through – they were given because you gave her your time – a part of you.

– Linda Palmer

Happy Father’s Day in heaven, daddy!  I love you!  🙂

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I STILL BELIEVE AS I GRIEVE

 

Last week my husband and I were in Blackwell, OK, just about an hour south (via the turnpike) of Wichita.  He was getting gas at the Conoco station because it was 20 cents a gallon cheaper than gas back home.  We don’t typically drive an hour to save money on gas, but it was a nice perk since we were going that way anyhow.

I had nothing in particular running through my mind – (for all of you who know me in real life, this comes as no surprise) – then I saw a robin holding a very long blade of grass, hopping between two cars.  It struck me as funny – there were vehicles everywhere and there’s a bird – a very busy bird – making a nest in the eave of the building!  I felt privileged to be given the opportunity to witness it and thanked God.  I love spring, don’t you?

The sight took me back in time and made me think of something I have not thought about for a long time.  Tears began to stream, as they are as I write this now – but it’s okay because they are happy tears, the kind that come when a sweet memory is revisited.

When I was about 7 years old, I spotted a bird’s nest on a low branch of the pine tree in our front yard.  I excitedly ran into the house to let mom and dad know about my discovery.  Daddy sat me down to explain some ground rules.  I listened intently.

• You can’t go too close to the nest
• You can’t touch the nest (I remember thinking, “If I can’t go close to it, how can I possibly touch it?”)
• You can borrow my binoculars to stand on the porch and look into the nest.  I felt so grown up.  Daddy didn’t let just anybody borrow his binoculars.
• You can’t tell the neighbor kids about your discovery. (Did he KNOW those kids, or what?)
• If you see something that doesn’t look right, don’t try to do anything yourself.  Find me or mom to help you.

Okey doke – I got that!  I used my daddy’s binoculars to check on the little nest every day.  The pretty blue robin eggs just stayed in one spot for what seemed like forever.  Then one day I checked on them – and the eggs had hatched – and there were 3 of the cutest baby birds!

Daddy wanted to name them Larry, Moe and Curly – but I wouldn’t hear of it.  They were Dexter, Samuel and Robbie.  No, I don’t know why – don’t ask me!

It was such fun to watch mama robin come back to the nest and feed them.  I’ve always been so impressed with the instincts and intelligence God endowed birds with – I mean, to me they are very smart!  I don’t understand people who use the phrase “BIRD BRAIN” – I take it as a compliment – LOL.

One day I peeked in on them – there were two baby birds.  I knew it wasn’t time for them to leave the nest yet – so I rushed in the house and screamed bloody murder to get someone’s attention.  Daddy was having his morning coffee but came running anyway.  I reported my findings to him with panic in my voice.  If that baby was not in the nest, it meant it had fallen out – and who knows if it was still among the living!

Daddy told me to stay in the house and he would go check things out.  He came in with the baby bird, miraculously breathing, in a small container.  He said, “Robbie fell out of the nest.  I think we need to help him, don’t you?”  I nodded my head in fervent agreement.  The task was at hand, and we were up for the challenge.  We prayed for our feathered friend and got to work.

We used a dropper to feed Robbie.  He did okay and I was tickled.  He grew and thrived!  I knew I could not keep him, but the day we had to set that bird free was the most difficult day.  Robbie knew he could not stay with us.  It could be my imagination, but I think he gave us a nod as if to say “Thank you for helping me” before flying away.  God answered our prayer.  Our baby was gonna be okay.

Once in a while, especially in the evening after working on the lawn, as we sat together as a family at the picnic table out in the back yard, my dad would see a robin and say, “Hey Linda, I think that’s Robbie!” 

Well, only God knows if our little Robbie ever really came back to see us, but I’d like to think he did visit us on occasion.  Wink!  😉

BOW TIE DAY

Today is BOW TIE DAY!!!  There is one bow tie that means the world to me – my daddy’s tie!  I keep it in my jewelry box and take it out once in a while, think back and smile.  It’s not flashy, but quite ordinary looking.  Gray with a striped texture, it made every one of my dad’s suits look very distinguished.

I have other memories of bow ties.  Pastor Chris and my husband had silk bow ties with flashing lights on them!  They used to wear them sometimes at potluck dinners just for fun.  Those are good memories to be sure.  I’m sure you have some bow tie memories too.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, bow ties came in various materials and styles.  The original bow tie was called a jabot (of French derivation, pronounced ja-bow) and was a kind of ready-made lace cravat.

It’s so great that I don’t have to know how to tie a bow tie!

As an alternative to the tailcoats and white bow ties of the early 1800’s, Pierre Lorillard V invented the tuxedo as an alternative.   The tuxedo got its name from the resort of Tuxedo Park, New York, where it was first worn.  Black tie and tails are now considered a standard at high school proms and weddings.

For business wear bow ties have lost favor since they are complicated to tie and must be made in the correct collar size.  These days the bow tie is unfortunately associated with geeks and others who are a little left of center.  Pee Wee Herman comes to mind – hmm, wonder why?

There are some really cute homemade bow ties that daddy’s can wear just because they love their kiddos so much:

Hey – it’s a no-sew method and that works for me!  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A COMMENTARY FROM THE HEART

Down through the years, I turned to the Bible and found in it all that I needed. – Ruth Bell Graham

As Father’s Day fast approaches, my thoughts turn to precious moments I spent with my dad in church services when I was a little girl. As the pastor read the morning Scripture, my dad would follow along with his finger and I pretended I was reading it too. Before I learned how to read the words, I learned that when Jesus spoke, it was written in red.

I was raised to respect God’s Holy Word. I didn’t question it, but accepted every concept as something God meant for me to apply to my life. Love and forgiveness are part of Christianity 101. Some days that is easier to follow than others (I am the first to admit that), but nonetheless, it is not just an offhand suggestion from God – it is a command.

When daddy shared his Bible with me, it made me feel so grown up. I thank God every day for those Sunday mornings!

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. – Clarence Budington Kelland

When daddy died, of course my mama kept his Bible. It wasn’t until September of 2005 I really got to take a good look through that precious book – dad’s Bible. I saw all the verses that meant the most to him and was taken aback because many of the verses he had highlighted are also ones I had highlighted in my Bible. Great minds think alike. Yes, I’ll take that as a compliment.

One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters. – George Herbert, Outlandish Proverbs, 1640

Later in my life I backslid. At the worst, I kept thinking about those Sunday mornings when I sat on that old oak pew (no, they were not padded), snuggled up with my daddy, pretending to read his Bible. I’m so very grateful for a daddy who kept loving me and praying for me even when I lost my way for a time. I’m reminded of how much more my heavenly Father cares for me. My earthly father was amazing. How much more amazing and awesome is my heavenly Father? ❤

INTERNATIONAL MOMENT OF LAUGHTER DAY

Would you rather do ten sit-ups or laugh until you spew root beer (diet, of course) from your nose???  Okay, that’s what I thought.  Who of us would not rather have a good laugh than exercise?  I know I would!  Did you know that a good hearty laugh can take the place of those painful sit-ups?  It’s true!  The same muscles that get worked during sit-ups are also worked during a really good laugh. 

Laughter is the best medicine for so many reasons.  Endorphins are instantly released and boost mood better than any anti-depressant on the market!  When you laugh, your blood pressure lowers because you relax inside.  A person who does not take life, or themselves, too seriously is a healthier person and a person that others enjoy being around.  That sounds like a real win/win to me!

Lucinda Berry Hill wrote a great poem for this day:

Love is an inside job. Take a moment to laugh today.  If there is someone in your life who has influenced your good humor, give them a call and let them know you appreciate it.  Enjoy that person while you can – because all too soon the people who mean the most to us are suddenly not there anymore.

You grow up the day you have your first real laugh—-at yourself. – Ethel Barrymore

• Be careful if you plan to pull a practical joke on someone – sometimes those things can backfire.
• Visit your local greeting card store and look at some of the funny cards.
• Share a funny story with a friend.  Why laugh alone?
• Watch your favorite funny movie – or read other posts on my blog.
• Do you have a friend that makes you laugh when you hear them laugh?  Yeah – that’s the friend to get ahold of today.
• Get naked and laugh at yourself in a full-length mirror.  This one doesn’t work for some of you – I get it.
• Show your baby pictures to someone who has never seen them.
• Go to a joke shop and buy a laugh box.  Put it in a co-worker’s cubicle, turn it on and run.
• Make faces at the clerk in the grocery store until they laugh.  Then say, “Mission accomplished.”

You don’t really have to think up a reason to laugh, but you should have a rational explanation for when someone asks why you are laughing uncontrollably in public.  Some folks just need to be assured that you haven’t gone a little crazy. 

Sometimes the laugh that wells up inside you should not be stifled. Sometimes it just needs to bubble to the surface and escape! 🙂