Here I am spending some time visiting my friends' blogs and went to Curt's blog.  If you haven't visited him, do so.  Tonight, I was visiting and reading his post on his grandfather, "Pop."  It brought back so many memories for me with my Dad.  Can I tell you about my Dad?

Dad passed away almost 22 years ago while I was still in college.  It was very sudden after a brief but devastating illness.  Devastating mostly in that he was my hero, my encourager, and my Dad.  In our own ways, it has impacted each member of my family deeply.  But, instead of focusing on that, I want to tell you how wonderful my Dad was. 

Each day, my DS and I have talks about his 'Poppa Tom.'  See, we gave our DS my Dad's first name in honor of Dad and to also give our DS an identity with this incredible man.  Oh, how I wish he could have met his 'Poppa Tom.'  Dad would have loved him.  They are so much alike, too.  Funny.

The things I remember about Dad was the way he loved us kids.  Even when he had to discipline us, no matter when in the day it happened, he always came into our rooms that night to talk about it.  My brothers and I laugh with Mom even to this day about "the lectures."  We joke that Dad would say pretty much the same things each time, so that we could "check out" and we knew exactly when to nod our heads or say,"Oh, no, Daddy, I don't feel that way," or words to that effect.  Dad would even say to us at some point, "I know you aren't even listening to me."  Thing was we were.  I know I was.  Though the words varied a little with each lecture, the emotion and the meaning was the same.  It was "I love you.  I couldn't love you more.  It is because I love you that I discipline you.  You are precious to me."  He never wanted us to go bed without being told how much he loved us.  It didn't matter how old we got either. 

I remember one of our last 'heart-to-heart' talks.  The summer before he died, I was taking some classes at summer school in college since I had changed my major.  I had had some pretty rough times with roommates so far in my college career and I was taking a chance at rooming with someone I didn't know.  I was nervous.  Dad kept telling me on the way up the road that he had a feeling God was going to take care of me and not to worry.  When we walked into the dorm room, there was a sweet note from my soon-to-be roommate that was so kind and loving.  Dad smiled and said, "See, honey, you are going to be just fine."  I was.  It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship with a sister in Christ that I still count as one of my closet and dearest friends to this day.  God knew I would need her when not even a whole year later, Dad would be gone.

Dad was always so encouraging and I never doubted his love.  I started out as a Music major in college.  Dad was a Band Director and I thought I would like to follow in his footsteps, but had a love for all things medical and was concerned about things I watched him deal with in the schools.  He lovingly told me one day that he wanted to pursue what I felt God calling me to.  He said,"Don't do something that feels comfortable to you or because you think it would please me. Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort area and moves us into something He can teach us through."  I became a nurse and loved the 15 years I worked till I quit to stay home with our son.  Now, I am living another dream of staying home.

At his funeral, there wasn't even room for everybody in the church.  One of the schools' bands took a "field trip" so the kids could be there to say goodbye.  There were people there from so many years of his life and teaching.  Dad lived his faith and I saw it that day at his funeral.  But, it wasn't even a funeral.  He had planned it years before he died.  It was a celebration and a worship service.  You could not have been in that church that day and walked out not believing in God.  Even a man Dad knew that was an 'avowed atheist' came and we heard some time later, had accepted Christ.  So many people that I knew and didn't know came to say goodbye and thank you.  Even today, I still hear from people who talk about how Dad changed their lives.  One guy in particular, "D,"was in the band, younger than me, but was a pretty rough guy.  He was always in trouble and involved in drugs.  He even vandalized some band equipment.  Dad had one of his "lectures" with "D".  A few years after Dad's death, a young man walked up to me in the local mall and called my name.  I had no clue who he was and he knew it.  He smiled and told me who he was.  It was "D."  He was pushing a little toddler in a baby carriage and his wife was expecting another.  He told me he was leaving for Dallas soon to attend seminary.  He also told me it was Dad that changed his life.  He said that Dad told him how much he loved him and how that moment began a relationship where Dad shared his faith in a way that brought "D" to Christ.  "D" told me that it was Dad who was his role model for his life and faith walk.

I wish our son could know Dad.  I wish Dad could be a part of his life.  But, I know Dad is enjoying his little granddaughter that is with him in heaven now and one day, we all will be together.  Our son will finally get to meet this man who inspires me to give him a legacy of faith to take out into the world.  Thanks, Dad.  I miss you but I will see you again and I can't wait.  Keep playing your trumpet with the angels as DS likes to say.