The kids DAD

 Before I get too old to write anymore in my blog  I want to write a few words  about the kids dad.  I can truly say of Joey that he was a wonderful husband and a good father. At this time your dad is 83 and we are both enjoying the lazy days of retirement and old age. At this time I have more health problems than your . I really want you kids to know more things about your dad.  For one Joey has always had a love of learning every since I have know him.  He was excited to hear about the church and jumped right into listening to the missionaries and said it made so much sense to him and it had all the answers he had always wondered about. He has been faithful in the church every since and has always loved the teachings that he had been taught.  Your dad was a excellent student in school also, always A's and had this love of learning about things from as early as ten yrs. old.  He ask his mother one day after he was out of school this question... "Mom, what was I like as a child?"  his mom looked at him and said without hesitation

 " you were never a child." I thought well that says it all! 

Dad went to this boys home one day and the boys mother said are you related to Mrs. Shappard that runs the grocery store?  Dad said "yes thats my mother."  Well she said...if you are anything like your mother you'll be ok . 

My sister Sarah also said near the same thing, she lived across the street from dads parents and she said of your dads mother (One of the nicest ladies I have ever met.)

 One day his brother Bill said " Girls sure seem to be getting prettier these days, and his dad replyed "No your just getting older." ha!  I have also learned that your dad sure has a love for history ...ALL HISTORY!!  He shares things with me and to be honest until I got older I never gave it much thought.  Since that time I have learned to appreciate some of it.   Going to make a list of some of the things your dad listened to and hope one day you might check  them out ......

                                             HERE THEY ARE!!

He loves and has a soft heart for the history of World War Two

He liked Churchill and so very many of his speeches and said he is one of the people he hopes to meet in the next life.

Your Dad has a love for animals, particularly dogs, loved our Maggie so much. He still talks about her and watches videos of her.   As a child he said his dad had a pet crow named Blackie......... all he had to do was call out his name and he came flying down from wherever he was.  Neighbor friends here in Century Oaks know how dad loves dogs and they often stop by at our house knowing dad will want to see their dogs and give them attention, does every time when they stop by. Its sweet!

Your dad  has a soft heart for history and when the soldiers came back from World War Two and I would often see tears fall from his eyes as he watched the soldiers come home to their love ones. He is so sentimental when touched by something that speaks to his heart!

Loves the music from 1950's/ we often spend evenings together listening to this music from yesterdays and we fall in love all over again.

Another subject is your dad also loves COLOR...he had cataract surgery done this year to see better.

  He shared with me the  RCA History of  " The Wonderful World of Color." it was amazing!!!  Never met anyone who wanted to know sooo much knowledge behind everything... even color!

MADE ME SHUTTERS FOR FRONT WINDOWS....LOVE THEM. 

KEEPS UP WITH MOVING YARD

KEEPS MY SECRETS 

ALWAYS MAKES SURE CAR IS SAFE AND RUNNING GOOD FOR ME SO i WILL BE SAFE.

 WILL REACH THE HIGH PLACES FOR ME WHEN I  CAN'T  REACH IN CLOSET OR CABINETS

WANTS US TO BE A FOREVER FAMILY....LOVES THE CHILDREN AND ME AND OUR TEMPLE MARRIAGE FOR ETERNITY.

We"ll Meet Again....by Johnny Cash

How Time Slips Away ....by Willie Nelson 

Forever and Ever Amen....by Randy Travis

My kids personalities and characteristics ......

Valerie......Has a tender heart....wants to do good and help others wherever she can.  Has a love for  animals. She hardly ever misses coming to visit her dad and I every month.   She tries hard to teach Levi to be a good person with good habits. She is like her Aunt Donna when it comes to helping her kids out, there is nothing she wouldn't do for them. So Jacob and Lindsey please make your mama proud! Valerie has one grandchild, that is Levi and he is the joy of her life!

Randy.....Randy is a good guy! You might say he is Dads right hand man especially when it comes to dad needing help with his computer or car. Randy lives pretty close to us so its pretty easy to rely on him when we need some help. We certainly hope he doesn't mind.   So when dad is needing help with his computer or with the car he just calls on Randy and he is always so nice to come and help us out.  We are very glad that Randy and Sherry live near by, they always go out of their way to help us whatever the situation is!  Randy when in school didn't hardly need to open a book, he was so smart.  His life hasn't always been easy as he had a stroke few yrs. back but then he never gave up getting back on his feet and getting on with his life.  Sherry was a blessing in helping him on this journal.  They have two children Marc and Kristen. Marc is my puzzle buddy and Kristen ,  have to say here I love my Kristen...she spent lots of time with her grandma and grandpa growing up...she is close to our heart. She was a delight to us as we watched over her while her mama worked.

 Angie ...she is a trailblazer for sure , forever seeking new experiences in life . She loves talking to everyone , for sure a talker and somewhat headstrong but focused at what she wants from her life and for her two boys. A lady who wants to taste all that life offers.  Have to say too that Angie was great with  teaching our kids lots of stuff when they were young. She loved to play school with them and teach. That pretty much sums up Angie. Married Christopher Gerber and they have two boys Finn & Scout. This year has been a tough one for this family because Christopher was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and we are all hopeful that he beats this to the curb. He is a fighter, trying to keep a upper chin and still enjoy his sports and his time  left on this earth.  He is never giving in but continues to enjoy his life to the fullest!

Todd......Was the sweetest child....he always made friends easily, and like his dad  had a real hunger for learning which put him right up into the top job he has today. ...works for Lockheed Martin and in  Engineering & Technology.  Was a very loving child growing up.  Todd after a testing period turned  his life around and went on a mission for our church and we could not have been  prouder!!  He learned Portuguese and was sent to Brazil. Married today to Heather Roddy and they have three children Jay, Jamison, and Ashlyn.

Leslie ....The one thing I remember about Leslie is that she was a "wonderful teenager" and was not afraid to give her mom hugs....I was so proud of her because I could count on her to make good choices. Leslie has a enormous love of music and dance!  Always has sung since a little girl in church. Its a gift!!  She must have sung in heaven!  Perhaps she gets some from her dad who loves music so very much also. He will play music on the computer for hours in the evening. Have to say she has the most  beautiful voice and started singing in church years ago while a very young girl.  She has had trails in life but haven't we all...as now not married and our wish for her is much happiness!!! She is proudly the mother of four great kids. Soren & Ander Peterson   , ...Aria & Ella Derham.

Stacey .......Stacey was her mama's helper , spent much of her time with helping me keep up with chores and cleaning around the house. She as all the kids did really well in school.  She also was very active in doing things to help out with the young women at church, someone they could count on for sure. Also was great at helping me with the little ones and for sure that was such a great blessing.  Stacey is married to Steve Bray and has two boys Aidan Acharekar and Axel Bray whom she is very proud of, loves most in life just being a mom!

Jennifer.......Well Jen was a super great student and her teachers really loved her.💗...when at home she made us all laugh doing lots of funny silly things.    She was the baby of our home and got lots of attention for sure from all her other siblings. Jen bought lots of love and laughter into our home and with so many kids she is a heaven sent!!!