For never leaving Mom Never leaving your children Working diligently in your jobs, home development, vacation planning, baking—caramel pie from scratch, poppy seed rolls—preaching, family
You took us to mountains and streams—to the top of mountains and into the streams—and let us explore. You build a kid-size play house in the basement, burnt wood shelves in our bedroom, a whole basement with coal burning stove and ping pong table.
You filled our valleyed back yard with mounds of dirt that after years you flattened so we could play croquet, frisbee and soccer.
You invented better airplane wings, power steering for tractors, a musical warm up machine, and an almost perpetual motion machine.
You modeled curiosity and openness to adventure. You modeled respect for, trust in, and love for Mom
Thank you for teaching us how to drive stick shift and change the oil
You are playful, hiding Christmas presents in deceptive wrapping, crafting puzzles and games out of wood as gifts.
You were sometimes scared of things God had under control Imagining that an employer would fire you for your kids’ misbehavior Feeling like you didn’t have enough money or intelligence or social status—having us brush the green shag carpeting into a perfect, never stepped on, creaseless meadow when someone important was going to visit
Thank you, Dad, for turning hard work and ingenuity into a lifestyle way more interesting and comfortable than your salary would provide.
Thank you for enjoying Marge and Loren, Marlin and Nona, and for talking about HD
You make things happen See how things can be improved Squeeze a problem until a solution squirts out
You love snow and crisp Autumn leaves and brisk winter air You don’t complain You model creativity in baking, sermons, home space design, photography, elderberry wine, music.