Father's Day...and 9 Months Old Today...

On Sunday, for Father's Day, we had made arrangements with my youngest brother E____ and my sister Holly,  to meet Mom and I at Mom's house at 11am.  I would drive us to the nursing home to visit Dad and have lunch after wards...

Mom and I planned on going to church early, but due  to us staying up so late Saturday night, Mom apparently turned off the alarm, and went back to sleep.  She came rushing down stairs in her pj's which was my first clue something was wrong.  Mom always dresses before coming down stairs... We fired up her new coffee maker and had our own Bible study while enjoying our coffee...

When everyone arrived, we headed over to the nursing home.  We found Dad eating his lunch in the new dining room.  Very nicely re-painted with a lot more room.  We stood in the door way, noticing Dad was struggling in cutting his chicken.  My brother went over and asked if he could help cut up his food and when Dad looked up, he grabbed him for a big hug!  Then he saw the rest of us.  We did not want him to stop eating, so he put his head down and snorked his entire lunch of chicken in gravy, potatoes, peaches, jello, a roll and a glass of milk...

We wheeled him out to the patio and gave him our gifts.  Mom brought Dad some mint toothpaste, my brother printed out a picture of he and Dad from last Father's Day, my sister made Dad a card and an apple pie inside a glass jar with screw on top.  HE ATE EVERY MOUTH FULL!

We called our brother Brian in Ohio, so he could talk with Dad and wish him happy Father's day... When my brother heard Dad had just finished a piece of home made apple pie, he asked Dad if he was going to wash it down with a cup of Joe (coffee).  Dad howled with laughter and told him, "OF COURSE!"... 

I scurried off and got Dad his cup of Joe.... I asked him to sample it and see if it needed more cream or sugar...  E_____ narrated for Brian on the phone, telling him how Dad took the cup and drained it like a shot of Tequila!  We all laughed, including my brother Brian on the phone.

I re-worked the original poem I wrote here and framed it for Dad as my gift.  Here is a picture below and how I changed the poem:

 

In Dedication to Our Father

Dad loves the outdoors, so it is natural for me to think of him
as a tall, strong, oak tree, with a thick trunk of integrity.
 Standing tall in his beliefs, branching out in quiet confidence...
Leaves of grandeur, protecting us, as much as leaves can, until winter...
He knew we had to learn to live our lives on our own.

He always said to listen to our inner voice...he believes in us.
Solid advice to each of us, as we circled within our lives,
growing, expanding, like the rings of a tree,
showing its age...as our lessons were learned...

Still, as an adult, hearing his voice, reminds me
of what he taught us in gentle whispers,
like a breeze fluttering the leaves...

 Always leading by example, with his quiet wisdom,
and calm inner peace... His willingness to listen
 instilled our individual sense of importance...

The best of his lessons is his belief in God.

 Living a full life loving nature, he cherishes beautiful sunrises and horizons.

He calls himself a farmer, enjoying the feel of the earth in his strong hands…
Vivid images in our minds for all time… 

Now, at 90 years old, we see him in the winter season of his life.

His face shows his joy, his faith, his hope, his laughter.

His eyes reflect the love he shows everyone.

We love you Dad, Happy Father’s Day!

June 19, 2011   

~dkb~

We visited and chatted.  We listened to Dad tell us some stories of a chicken he had raised and then given to the school where he worked.  Dad would come to the fence and whistle his special whistle for this chicken, and it would remember it and come out of the flock of chickens to the fence where Dad was...  He talked of our family pet, Brutus and how much Dad loved him...

Dad told us of being in the movies with John Wayne and how Maureen O'Hara was his dear friend... He told us when he has lived as long as he has, he has met so many wonderful people over the years...

We gave him the updates for the rest of the family and where they were so he would not wonder why they did not come... He was thrilled to hear about all the activities and events going on in the family...

We had the nurse take our picture...

From left to right, Mom in purple, youngest brother E____, bottom in sunglasses, my sister Holly, Dad and myself...

Dad kept us all entertained with his memories and stories and then became quiet and sleepy.  My sister took all the cards into his room and hung them on his "wall of love".  I asked the charge nurse if we could hang Dad's framed poem next to his bulletin board.  She told me she would call maintenance and ask them to hang it.

We all kissed Dad good-bye and as we walked out the front door, I took this picture of the flower area as you walk into the nursing home...

You can see the corner of a sitting bench in the left hand corner...it is so cheery and peaceful...

We had all agreed to have lunch at one of our family's favorite places, Taco Ready.  A family owned place with THE BEST food!  Unfortunately, when we arrived at 2pm, they had just closed early for Father's Day....  My brother E____ tried to talk them into allowing us to get orders to go...but no luck....

E___ suggested another great place, The Capri Deli, so we went there and he treated us all to a wonderful lunch.  I had what my brother had, which was a salami/ham grinder and cold spaghetti salad, Mom had a hearty bowl of soup and Holly had a grilled chicken salad...DELICIOUS!

After. I drove us back to Mom's and we sat around joking and laughing...enjoying every ones company.  It was a FANTASTIC Day!

             ********************************************

Monday, the 20th, Jacob turned 9 months old.  My daughter Jodee wanted to take me to lunch at Olive Garden for my recent birthday on the 8th.  Mom really wanted to see Jodee and Jacob, so she came along with me and we met Jodee and Jacob in Riverside...

Despite cutting his top four teeth, Jacob was all smiles and enjoying all the attention from each of us.

 9 months old today...

Mom (Great Granny) playing "Owl Eyes" with Jacob...right after this, he grabbed her face and laid a big ol' wet lip lock on her!  He had everyone around us oooooing and awwwwwing....

Proud Mama Jodee and happy baby Jacob...

Proud Grandma with wiggly Jacob...

After our wonderful soup and salad lunch...we went over to the Galleria Mall on Tyler in Riverside and walked around.  Jodee had some errands to run, so we went with her.  I took Mom into the Brighton store, but she forgot to pack her gift card, so we looked around for ideas for how she can spend the gift card next time she has it...

We all hugged good bye and Mom and I hopped on the freeway back to her house to avoid the afternoon traffic...

Thank you Jodee for my wonderful birthday lunch and for the beautiful card you and Jacob made me... I LOVED IT!!!