Two Years Ago Today

Today marks the 2nd year anniversary of us living without dad. It hardly seems possible that we've been able to keep on laughing, crying, working and soldiering on without his presence. This morning I woke up at 5 am and had the best vision of dad. He was sitting in the front of the Bass Tracker with one foot on the trolling motor looking at the sunset on Blue Lake. I hope the fishing is great, dad! PS...I can't bare to eat the last walleye package in the freezer so it sits in the corner of the deep freeze as my sweet memory of dad each time I look for something to make for dinner!

Curious Call

A few weeks ago mom received a phone call at 4 am. It was the day she was closing on the house so she'd been having trouble sleeping that night. It was a man named Marty Fairbanks. He had been a sentenced to serve worker and he and dad had hit it off many years ago. When he was able to move into his first apartment mom and dad bought him a microwave and some other items that they thought he would need. He had been away from Thief River Falls for the last few years and called looking for dad. Mom told him that dad passed away and he couldn't believe it. He told mom how dad had been like a father to him and his dream was to run a tree service business with dad. Mom finally got him calmed down and told him to keep in touch. On a day when we needed dad, this call made mom realize how much he is still around in the others that remember and miss him.

Letter To Dad

Dear, Dad Today I'm feeling the need to be closer to you so it's time for a letter. First, an update on the Christmas festivities of 2013: * Katy continues to be in the lead for best lefse roller. She and mom made homemade lefse for all of us and Steve-o ate the most. * Erik is on a no-clothes kick. Every day he asks if he has to wear pants. He is currently wearing fireman underwear and roaming the house. * Myndy and Jason hosted a great Christmas celebration. You would have loved the pasta bar with homemade meatballs. * Mylee and Stella got a fancy Cadillac Escalade for their present. Should be fun this spring and summer. No Crestliner for us yet, but Steve is shopping for boats daily! You would be proud of mom. She has done a great job getting the house ready to sell and should close sometime next week. I made her a book about "The Little Brown House" where you are featured promimently! Many shots of the family with wild game. Myndy and Jason are in Hawaii and Stella keeps thinking there is a man who looks like you...right down to the Merrells and Hawaiian shirt. I'm sure you are keeping an eye on all of us and tapping us on the shoulder ocassionally. Love you, Heather

Glimpses of Dad!

This week each day has been filled with glimpses of dad. On Thursday, Ellie and I rode the Holly Jolly Trolley to see the lights of Rochester with the girl scout troop. At one of the lighted homes, the owner came out in his carhartt bibs to give the kids hot chocolate and cider. As we pulled away from his house I looked up to see him lighting up a cigarette. Images of dad in his carhartt bibs with a smoke hanging out of his mouth came to mind. Today we made flatbread, one of dad's favorites. We used Beatti's famous recipe with the malt-o-meal. As we rolled out the dough I could hear dad saying, " Let the rolling pin do the work. Don't use too much flour or they'll be tough. They should be paper thin." Today I'm grateful for these taps on the shoulder from dad. Missing you today and always, dad!

Deer Hunting

Fall was always my dad's favorite season. He loved hunting with friends and showing his "city son-in-laws" the ropes. Last weekend Steve and Jason made the annual trip north for the big hunt. On Sunday morning they had some good luck and we're pretty sure that dad was leading those deer in to make sure we had venison for the winter. Thanks to Lyle, Krist and Shawn for taking up the guide service!

Call to Grandpa Myles

Tonight Erik decided he needed to make a special call to grandpa Myles. He wanted to make sure grandpa knew about his new car. He said, "Hello grandpa. Is Jesus taking good care of you? I have a new car that has two seats so there is room for you. I love you grandpa." I asked how grandpa was and he said, "Good. He misses us but Jesus is taking care of him."

Memories of the Little Brown House

The last month or so mom has been working very hard to get the house ready to sell. We'll head up north in a few weeks to help her move some things out and get ready to move into town. It will be a blessing for her not to have to worry about snow removal, mowing, and those little furry creatures that you get when you live in the country. As I think about my childhood it seems every room or place in the yard has a memory: My old bedroom:I can clearly remember the burned hole in the carpet that was made when I tipped my dresser over and the lamp full down. Dad was not very happy with me about that one! My new bedroom: I always thought I had the coolest bedroom with the loft, built in desk and fancy waterbed. I remember many nights playing in the loft with the Aandals and the night Travis decided to jump down! The basement: My sisters and I spent many days playing house down in the basement and having Barbie fashion show contests. I also remember some great birthday parties and playing pin the tail on the donkey downstairs in the basement. The playhouse: As I remember it Grandpa Rufus and dad worked together to build us a playhouse. We thought it was a deluxe model because it had sliding glass windows and a dutch door. Dad was never too busy to come through our drive-through and order a Big Mac. These and so many more memories are tied up in the little brown house. I was a lucky kid!