Raising a salute to our Captain today on his birthday...and also a flag (or two!) His love of this country included his love for his Norwegian roots...which he honored through regularly raising both flags on his deck. I had the privilege of taking his place and hoisting those flags this summer on my visit with sister Erlene. 

I had cataract surgery yesterday, and today when the eye patch was removed I was astounded as to the clarity of my vision! I was reminded of this scripture which describes what is to come: "We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!" (1 Corinthians 13:12) How wonderful to know our dear Captain now sees Him face to face, continually enjoying His presence! We eagerly await that day ourselves!  

It was a curious coincidence that all three of the HEMENWAY GIRLS married a special TRUE GENTLEMAN named Bob!  CAPTAIN BOB was the first to leave us and far too early! How well we appreciated his quiet poise and humor. We are sending electronic HUGS to you Erlene as we approach the anniversary of his birth and also remember his far too early parting from us.

BBG and Leana
XXOO

Five years ago today we lost...but heaven gained...our beloved Capt. Bob. His love of the outdoors and appreciation of the creation brings to mind these words of John Muir:
“Oh, these vast, calm, measureless mountain days, days in whose light everything seems equally divine, opening a thousand windows to show us God.”

So thankful he has now reached the ultimate Mountaintop, and eagerly waits to show us the grandeur!  Miss him always...

We were up early this morning, to see some friends off to the airport.....and I was reminded of how the Capt. was often up at "first light" to greet the day. With a smile in my heart, I began thinking of how four years ago he was finally able to experience the First Light, Jesus, as he was welcomed into heaven. We listened to Edvard Grieg's "Morning Mood" today in honor of the Captain.
Here is a link to the music and beautiful photography of the creation he so loved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAu4TajHYLk

We have loved reading these special tributes and seeing all the great pictures of Bob on this day. We had the honor of spending some time with Erlene tonight, toasting Captain Bob (Skaal!) and sharing some memories. Oh how he is missed! Bob and Erlene shared a love and friendship that is beautiful to witness. They were the first couple to greet us when we visited North Sound Church years ago and they were so cute in their Norwegian sweaters (Sons of Norway all the way!)...we kept coming back. I worked in the Church kitchen with Bob, no dish was too big or dirty for him to scour and scrub, even the disposable steam pans with all those creases in the corners. One day after I made a particularly sticky recipe and I watched Bob labor away at the pans, I asked him if he knew how much we paid for them. He had no idea so when I told him they cost 25 cents each...he immediately tossed them in the trash and I got to tease him from then on. We are blessed for having known Bob and we treasure our friendship with Erlene.

Dear Captain, we are still missing you with tender holes in our hearts. 


THE SHIP

I am standing on the seashore, a ship sails in the morning breeze and starts for the ocean.
She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her till at last she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says: "She is gone.”  Gone! Where?
Gone from my sight that is all.
She is just as large in the masts, hull and spars as she was when I saw her, and just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination. The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me, not in her, and just at the moment when someone at my side says, "She is gone"
there are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout:
"There she comes!"
and that is dying.

- Bishop Brent

Bob was our lifetime friend, 'the best man' at our wedding 61+ years ago and introduced us to the North Sound Church in Edmonds and he is always in our thoughts and we will be forever grateful. A best man wedding picture has been posted.

Dear UB,

Your family all misses you so very much. I have so many memories of you that I do not know which one to talk to you about right now :-) Perhaps one all the family can relate to is you teaching (or trying to teach me) me to ski at Sahalie. I'm not a skier, as we all know. But, you in your own loving way.... got me in my skis when I was a little girl, took me out to that small rope tow, told me to grab on to it like I was grabbing an egg and didn't want to break it, and ride away. You were behind me of course, but still you had me going it on my own. I know I whined and complained about my arms getting pulled out of their sockets, and about being cold, etc... of course I got no pity from you <3 And when we got to the top - you told me "Now.... ski down and do it again". How easy you made it sound! I loved you so much and looked up to my Uncle Bob, and I knew how much you loved me too. Thank you for trying to teach me to ski, and I'm sorry I never really 'got' it. I hope you are skiing with Mom in heaven every single day, and I promise to ski there with you both one day.  I love you and miss you.

Dad, tomorrow is 2 years since you left us for your heavenly Mountain climb. Thinking of you with such gratefulness. Karin

Hello. I am Erlene’s sister, Lynn…but in recent years Bob began calling me “Baby Lynn”, since I am the youngest of 3 sisters. I liked it! It made me feel a lot younger than I was! Incredibly, each of us sisters married men named BOB….so we gave each of them a special name, to tell them apart: Bob Stevenson became known as “Capt. Bob” (due to his expertise on the sea)…. So I’m centering today’s thoughts around our beloved “Capt. Bob”, and what I believe helped him navigate through the rough waters of life. 

There is a saying that says “A Bible that is falling apart is usually owned by a person who isn’t.” In the past few days, I’ve had the privilege of glancing through Bob’s very worn Bible, and in a sense peeking into his heart and soul. Page after page I’ve seen underlined and highlighted verses - most of them dated - as well as side comments written in the margins. Bob was serious about his study of the Bible, and serious about applying it to his life. You can see samples of some of his recent entries in your program today. His faith was the keel that kept him centered and upright in life….the tiller that guided him through rough waters....the compass that told him where to go and how to treat others.

Jesus said, “I’ve come that they may have life, and have it abundantly” – John 10:10

Capt. Bob found this secret for living an abundant life … through a relationship with Jesus, discovered through the pages of his worn out Bible.

Last Sunday in church we sang the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be”.  Erlene leaned over to me and whispered “that describes Bob.” I’d like to share a few verses of this hymn with you:

Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise
Take my hands and let them move, at the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be, swift and beautiful for Thee
Take my voice and let me sing, ever only for my King
Take my lips and let them be, filled with messages from Thee
Take my love, my Lord I pour, at Thy feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be, ever only all for Thee

Capt. Bob’s heart was full of God’s love, which poured out to others in a life of service. His hands washed pots & pans in the church’s kitchen and bussed tables at Sons of Norway events. His feet guided blind skiers through snow covered woods and took him to the mountains where he appreciated God’s creation. His voice sang God’s praises accompanied with the piano and accordion, and his lips gave testimony to his God. When he was first diagnosed with his illness he told me “I’ve been walking with Jesus a long time, so I’m not going to stop now.”
His life personified these instructive verses from Romans 12, which Bob had underlined in his Bible:

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. – Roman 12:9-12

The world was a better place because Capt. Bob sailed its seas – We will deeply miss him at the helm.

Bob was always proud of his Norwegian, Scottish and American heritages. Appropriate that his Birthday is on Veterans/Armistice Day. On the 4th of July the flag that was presented to his family honoring his fathers' service to this country, was always exhibited on the front of Bob and Erlene's home. I have added a photo of the flag to the images seen here. You can tell by the fold lines that it was saved for special times.

The world was a better place because Capt. Bob sailed its seas – We will deeply miss him at the helm.

We are saddened by the loss of our friend Bob. There are many wonderful memories of times shared with him. There were the times when we went on skiing trips with the group from Edmonds High School, class of '53. Bob was at home on the slopes while the rest of us wanabe's were thrashing about trying to avoid serious injury. We were pleased when he and Erlene purchased Aunt Ruth's house here in Edmonds. Pleased because it was perfect for them, and also because we were grandfathered in for a very convenient parking spot, with a short hike to view the 4th of July parade. The highlight of the parade for us was the Sons of Norway dragon ship. Seeing Bob on his bike and Erlene cheerfully walking along, sweltering in the heat under all that wool "costume". Bob was a leader. When he joined an activity, he was active! No comfortable seat in the stands, he was there to contribute or there was no point in being there. Then came the quiet times when he wasn't strong, but wanted to see and say goodbye to friends. Thru the memories and the sadness we are left with a warm heart when we remember Bob's strength and faith when he approached the next great journey - he did his very best to follow Jesus' teachings.
      Sail On Bob, you will be missed - Floyd & Janet

I remember him well from Edmonds United Methodist. I know he went to Scotland in 1981 with my parents and it was a great trip for them. Blessings to all his loved ones and you all adjust to the new normal without him.

Bob, I see you in the halls of Ronald and the rainy crosswalks of Aurora we patrolled. And later on Norwegian slopes I've never seen I see you gliding through your birthright snows. I see you guiding blind kids through the Rockies on slats you've helped them wax. I see you smiling on high seas and on craggy mountains, benign for sure and maybe even beatific. When last we spoke online I left you with my late friend Ed's "White Rose, whose / house is light against" impending dark. May it help you on your own bright way....

Carl and I are shocked to learn of Bob's passing. He was so full of life and always on the go. He accomplishing so much in his life time. It was such a honor to have known him. Our hearts and prayers go out to Erlene and family. God must need help with his skiing.