Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven, Daddy!

We planted a tree in your honor at our farm, Daddy!  It's a gift from our Sunday School family friends.  We know how much you love nature and all of God's Creation.  Speaking of trees, the cutting from the Engelke Homestead willow is growing up very nicely, too!

What a cute little boy you were.  I bet you didn't appreciate wearing those stockings though!  It must have been a pretty big deal to get dressed up for a studio photo.  

Ah, now this is more like it.  In your work clothes and playing on the farm!  Sure wish I knew what happened to that box car.  Cy has been wanting to build one just like it.  We'll let you know how that progresses!

I still hear how you missed about a year of high school (farming and playing "hooky") but were pretty close to being Valedictorian.  Probably shouldn't go sharing that with our kids as a motivating factor for studying;)

Have you had a chance to catch up with all your folks, brothers and sisters yet?  I bet Aunt Joyce is a little bit jealous.  She'll just have to wait her turn.  The Good Lord knows what He's doing. :)

I tried to grab a picture from each decade of your life here.  This one was taken in 1961.  Four kids and one on the way.  Just a little bit busy...

And here we were in 1971.  Farming, raising a family, going to church...I remember you taking a nap with us  kids every day after lunch.  I didn't want to fall asleep for fear of missing whatever exciting adventure was going to await us in the afternoon.  I'd wake up and dang it, you were already gone, out working in the fields.  Now I know why you took those power naps!!

The 80's.  Most of the kids grown up and out of the house...but not all of us just quite.  Grandkids starting to  enter the picture, making life even more enriching!  This picture was taken 5 years into sobriety.  So much pride, so many good times!

The early 90s.  Grandkids singing "Happy Birthday" to you...just as they will continue to do so into the years on this day.

2000.  50 years of marriage and a wagon full of blessings.

2010.  60 years of marriage and our outdoor family photo shoot was rained out.  I wasn't sure how we were all going to fit onto a wagon anyway;)

Your best friend and partner-in-crime.  She misses you dearly.  We all do!!!! (not enough exclamation points to express....)

Your life motto:  Love and Gratitude.  

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!  Love you so very very much!!

 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. "--John 5:24