April 1, 2019
April 1, 2019
A Tribute to Bill Gwinn by Jenny DeFrates:
to my dad
you gave me your brown eyes and my brown hair.
you called me your doll babe whenever you picked up the phone to talk to me.
you're the reason I have a campfire in my front yard and a skylight over my baby's bed.
you taught me that Jesus isn't a crutch, he's the whole hospital.
I got my first speeding ticket driving your convertible.
you taught me to laugh at myself.
I learned to whistle just like you and when I do, my kids come just like I did for you.
you're the reason I love to eat out at least once a day, preferably twice if possible.
you taught me to pull the weeds in my yard and the weeds in my life, before they got out of control.
you're the reason I know 299 camp songs and am teaching them to my kids.
remember " 'Wissahickon'? what a funny name!"
you must of played tennis with me a hundred times and I never did win a set from you until you were 68 years old.
you bought me my first Subaru and my first golden retriever
and you said sending her to heaven was the hardest thing you ever did.
you took that pain for me.
you and I always wanted to climb Mount Whitney together—How 'bout on the New Earth?
you always washed my car when I visited you, any visitors car, because you had a servants heart.
you taught me "He is Risen, He is Risen indeed" ..... how was the buffet your first Easter in Heaven?
you're the reason I can't drive through a tunnel without honking.
you put me on your shoulders so many times and we looked for "potholes" in all those swimming pools over the years.
and your Halloween boogey-man with the trenchcoat—outside in the dark—you'd stagger and moan with the flashlight smashed under your contorted face.
your silliness will never be duplicated.
you had a father who you didn't dare ask for a nickel.
yet you became a dad who gave me everything.
but most especially you showed me Jesus' love and taught me that heaven is our forever home.
i can't wait to play with you there
and we'll talk and love again.
Jenny (Gwinn) De Frates Colorado August 2009
to my dad
you gave me your brown eyes and my brown hair.
you called me your doll babe whenever you picked up the phone to talk to me.
you're the reason I have a campfire in my front yard and a skylight over my baby's bed.
you taught me that Jesus isn't a crutch, he's the whole hospital.
I got my first speeding ticket driving your convertible.
you taught me to laugh at myself.
I learned to whistle just like you and when I do, my kids come just like I did for you.
you're the reason I love to eat out at least once a day, preferably twice if possible.
you taught me to pull the weeds in my yard and the weeds in my life, before they got out of control.
you're the reason I know 299 camp songs and am teaching them to my kids.
remember " 'Wissahickon'? what a funny name!"
you must of played tennis with me a hundred times and I never did win a set from you until you were 68 years old.
you bought me my first Subaru and my first golden retriever
and you said sending her to heaven was the hardest thing you ever did.
you took that pain for me.
you and I always wanted to climb Mount Whitney together—How 'bout on the New Earth?
you always washed my car when I visited you, any visitors car, because you had a servants heart.
you taught me "He is Risen, He is Risen indeed" ..... how was the buffet your first Easter in Heaven?
you're the reason I can't drive through a tunnel without honking.
you put me on your shoulders so many times and we looked for "potholes" in all those swimming pools over the years.
and your Halloween boogey-man with the trenchcoat—outside in the dark—you'd stagger and moan with the flashlight smashed under your contorted face.
your silliness will never be duplicated.
you had a father who you didn't dare ask for a nickel.
yet you became a dad who gave me everything.
but most especially you showed me Jesus' love and taught me that heaven is our forever home.
i can't wait to play with you there
and we'll talk and love again.
Jenny (Gwinn) De Frates Colorado August 2009