Mom and Dad

It was 22 years ago December 2nd that I got a call from my sister letting me know that my mom and dad were gone. Called home to be with God.

That is a day I will never forget and one that I wished had never happened! I can remember almost every detail of that day and the days that followed. I remember the faces of the people that had gathered at my parents house waiting for me to arrive....there to offer love and support following the tragedy. You see, my parents were loved more than any one I know. They were the type of people that made everyone feel like family. I can't tell you how many people were there that night.....I just know that when I walked in their house there was love....love for my mom and dad.....and love for my sister, my brother and myself.

Mom and dad were very giving people. They were always helping people, having people into their home, going to visit someone that was sick. My dad especially was ALWAYS helping someone. I remember he would help people lay carpet in their house, fix a leaking pipe, work on a car....you name it he was willing to help. He could fix anything and people knew it....I can't tell you how many times people would say "Call Jack he'll know what to do", and if he couldn't fix something he would work at it until he got it figured out. Saddest part of dad's willingness to help people was that he sometimes got taken advantage of....that never stopped him. He never would take money as people would try to pay him and he always refused. He just did it out of the goodness of his heart.

Mom was the encourager. She would call to check on people. Send cards to those that were sick. She always had a good word to say about people and could always see the good in every situation. She loved to laugh and could talk your ear off.....that's where I get it from.....so don't complain!!! LOL She loved sports......loved the Texas Rangers......loved the Dallas Cowboys. She could watch a football game on TV, listen to a baseball game on the radio and crochet all at the same time and never miss a play or a stitch. Yes she could multi-task!! She also loved to entertain. Mom and Dad loved having people over, cooking outside, riding horses, they loved to open their home to people!!

There was never a time when I didn't feel loved by my parents. They were very involved in my life growing up as well as my brother's and sister's. They were so proud of all three of us. We were a really close family. I think it would be safe to say that my parents were the type of parents that all of our friends flocked to. Our door was always open for our friends to come hang out and they did. 

Mom and dad were hands on type of parents. They were youth sponsors during the years that I was in junior high and high school. They nearly always went on the retreats with us.....dad would drive the Church bus and mom would be one of the cooks. I have lots of fond memories of the whole family going on church retreats!! Praise God for their involvement in my life at such a critical stage. They loved being around the youth group and all the kids loved being around them. They were also at all of my sports games.....dad would either be coaching or helping mom keep the official score for the umpire. They were my biggest fans!!

One of the things that we enjoyed as a family was camping and boating. We had our own boat and would go to the lake every chance we got. We also went to a lake in East Texas every summer for years and stay up to two weeks.....camping out.....boating.....fishing......water skiing.....just being together. More times than I can count one or more of us kids would bring a friend along and they were always welcome and treated like family. I can't tell you how many of our friends learned to water ski behind my dad's boat. He was very patient and was a great teacher!! Such great memories.

I know I have said a lot about how wonderful mom and dad were and well they were pretty great.....but they weren't perfect. They messed up some but they were always the first to admit their mistakes and try to make things right. They had faults and we didn't always get along.....especially when I was in my teens. You see I was the "wild" child of the three kids....I know right....who would have guessed. I was always involved in something....playing softball......basketball.....volleyball.....or running up and down the drag!! Memories!! I'm not sure they knew what to do with me when I came along after my "first born" sister. She was pretty perfect in their eyes and was the type that would get up early just to make their coffee. We were and still are as different as night and day. Mom and dad's parenting skills were really tested on me and some of the stunts that I pulled. But no matter what I had going on....they were always waiting up for me when I got home to ask how I was doing and tell me they loved me and kiss me good night!!

I learned a lot from my parents....more than I can write in one post.....I'll save that for another time. In closing I think that the most important thing that I learned from Mom and Dad is that God is to be the center of my life.....to love Him and serve Him will my whole being. Mom and Dad loved God and lived as Jesus would have them live. We were a family that played together and prayed together. They never made big family decisions without having a family meeting for discussion and for some time of prayer. God was always in the middle of our family. For this I am truly blessed.

I plan to write more in the days to come about some of the things I have learned from Mom and Dad. I hope that you will check back in and enjoy some of my writing.

From my corner of the world.....thanking God for my Mom and Dad!!