When Mark was 14-15 months old, we began an addition to the back of our house. Mark was fascinated by the contractors and followed them around, watching everything they did. No doubt, they were happy when he went down for a nap so they could get something done. Being good family men themselves, they did not complain. Furthermore, they let him pick up the tools he could lift. The hammer was of particular interest to him since he had a small wooden hammer and peg toy. Eventually, he picked up a real hammer and tried to hammer a nail. Considering his age, he was pretty good but the hammer was really too heavy for him to handle. Grandpa Frandsen saw this and promptly went to the hardware store and bought him a small hammer. The contractors built him a wooden box, gave him some large nails and Mark, the Builder began his life with real tools.
From that time forward, he was working on some project. He fixed cars, bikes, built decks, sheds, glass shops, desks, and many more things I can't remember today.
In April 2013, he had his right leg amputated above the knee. Shortly after his recovery, he and a friend built a fence and gate to close off the back yard where he was living. He wanted to have an organic garden and that required keeping the deer at bay. They like organic food too. There he was on the ground digging a posthole, cementing the post, putting up the wooden fence slats and constructing a gate that could be easily opened and closed.
Of all the things Mark created and loved, his children are the most precious. Shortly before his death, he told his hospice doctor, that he hoped the legacy he built for Athena, Makio and Opie would help them understand love, joy and service in their lifetimes. He built that important foundation of love for them to remember him always.