Dad - getting closer to retiring - talked with mom about your trips around the USA after you retired and just looked at some pics from those trips! Makes me want to get started. You are still inspiring me today. I miss you!

Its your Birthday Dad! I took what little family I have left to the fireworks. Caleb, Judy and our newest addition, Karen. Lol. My new job in Texas is a joke, but they pay me well.. I am working toward retirement, got to get the house paid off, and self sufficient. Cant be depending on others all the time. God gave me enough since on what to do so we are doing it. Caleb is really helping a lot while playing computer games all the time. When I drive to work I have an hour, not like walking across the street you did in Chowchilla. I found this station that plays the old hymns and are song, which remind me of your singing. You had a great voice, and I think some of the people sound exactly like you. I enjoy singing loudly with the songs as I drive to work. Its kind of like singing with you.

Miss you and remembering you especially on your birthday after the fireworks...

Tim

Dad…. A bit closer to retiring! I miss you daddy. I wish I had listened to you more when I had the chance. I’ve read and shared a lot of your notes with fellow teachers, especially newbies. You always had great advice.

Dad - I'm getting close to retirement. I remember you fell off a ladder a few months after your retirement and the police found you laying in the street. I think I will stay off ladders if it's all the same to you. You took mom around the USA when you retired. I'd like to do some traveling like that also. Sometimes I wonder what you thought as you got ready to retire. All those years in education. All the students and teachers. You won some and sometimes you didn't get to see what happened. I think now you know the
"rest of the story." Miss you dad.

With Christmas here, I remember the traditions of the family and have modeled my family's traditions after what my Dad did!. As a family, we gather the evening before Christmas and read the Christmas story and even sing a couple of songs. Mom can play the piano when we had one. For many years we did not have one. We just read the bible and pray and then open ONE present Christmas Eve. The tree has a few presents under it, but that evening is when the shock and awe happens. Just as Dad and Mom would bring the presents from who knows where and lay them at the tree, so do Judy and me. We make it so that Christmas morning is quite a sight with the oozing of presents all around the tree! When we all get up we start with the Stocking until the entire family is up! Last is normally me, just as it normally was Dad. Once we are all there we thank God for what he has given us and then take turns opening our presents. I thank my Dad and Mom for the traditions we have and thank God for my family. I now have my old Daughter Natasha living in her own house, and my so living back in the weirdo California. While we will never live there again, we will have to visit family there. We could not do to the COVID scare.

We miss you Dad every Christmas but thank God for the time we had.

As we sit here watching the fireworks, I remember as a child saying the next one is mine! Ohhh. Ahhhh. Dad always took us to the fireworks, somewhere. The next day was his birthday. He always said he kissed Anna(Mom) and he saw fireworks. Must have been almost his birthday! Every year the fireworks are a reminder of how much I loved my Dad and still tear up when writing this about him. I miss you!

Jake was one of my best friends. We had struggles like anyone else but we gave it our all, tried new things and loved our God with all our hearts. He enjoyed sports so very much. He played on a team in Spokane. We played tennis. I don't know if he learned to ice skate near Spokane, where I did. I always admired his drive, sportsmanship, friendly-out-going spirit. Things were not always easy, but with a friend like Jake, it made the trip worthwhile. Thank you for allowing this little message to reach him. Pete went to heaven 20 yrs. ago, so I know they have got things worked out as I, too, will be there soon as I am now 87 living at Crista Shores, Silverdale, Washington Thank you all of your efforts on his behalf, and God Bless

Jake was responsible for me to become a Christian. We met at Rogue River High School, he was a year ahead of me. We began going to Youth Groups and "hang out" when ever we could. I worked in Malt Shop, with a pin-ball game in it. We ended up going to Whitworth College in Spokane, Washingon. He had a room mate named Pete Summerill. Life was sweet,but we all had to go our seperate ways. Pete was drafted into the Navy, we got married and lived a very full life, with 3 kiddos. Lost touch with Jake. but I am sure he was a wonderful husband, father, worker and "gave it his all" as a dear, dear man.

Hi Dad, took the family camping, only we have a travel trailer instead of a Volkswagen bus. That style is back again, just saw it on TV. Showed my Grandson how you would flip pancakes without a spatula (because you forgot it). Works well and even impressed Judy. Those simple trips were amazing to me. Connor now 23 talks about the trips we did as a family. So far my kids are doing great as I tried to do and copy the best of what you taught us.
I miss you Dad, thank you for the camping trips.

I miss you dad.

Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone...

Miss you dad! I love you!

I miss you dad!

Dad, I recently read from the files and notes you had written for your teachers and staff (I saved a big binder full!) You had a lot of wisdom and insight and I hope that I can be half the teacher and administrator that you were. I miss you.

Being the 4th of July Holiday, I remember the fireworks we would go to and sit and say this one is mine! I do the same with my kids. Tonight Laurel MD is having their 4th of July celebration, and it brings back my memories of Dad and fireworks and his birthday. I find it hard to do as much as he did for the family. We went on so many outings, camping, fishing, trips to Disney. I miss you, DAD!