Day 65 -- July 4 and a 91st Birthday Party

It has always been fun to have a dad whose birthday is on July 4--always a theme for the party and people are off work and can call or come over.  We've had so many wonderful family gatherings to celebrate the birth of a nation and the birth of a great man.  Today, dad wasn't feeling very well at all, but he graciously visited with all those who came by and called to wish him a happy birthday, and he values each of those people dearly.  One really cool surprise he got for his birthday was a letter written by him in 1945 from Japan while he was in the Army to his sister Mary.  Aunt Peggy found the letter while going through old keepsakes, and so she brought it to him and for all of us to read.  I read it aloud to dad, and it really touched him to hear it and to think about his sister he lost so many many years ago.  That was maybe the highlight of the day for me is getting to read that to him and watch the emotions run across his face as I read it.  I thank God for the long life he has given Daddy and for the 65 years I have gotten to have him so far.  We have all been blessed by having him in our lives as husband, dad, granddaddy, friend, uncle, cousin--and those who reached out to him via phone, in person, by Facebook, cards, etc.  can attest to that.  We read every single Facebook post to him and the name of the person who sent it, and he loved it!

Sweet memories from earlier times

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