A lifetime is never long enough...to love

I needed an outlet. Yes, this is supposed to be about cold beer and finding cold beer and sometimes about my unique experiences - but today is about something different.

Today is about a man.

I am blessed.  Many days I am ungrateful and feel like God has handed me a raw deal- there are things that are hard, things that I want- and obstacles that sometimes seem too much to bear.

But- when I come to a week or a month like this- I feel like my cup runeth over.

Once upon a time there was a poor paper boy who fell in love with a star pupil in Chicago. They went to a party after a minstrel show and the rest is history. They fell in love, got married, had 2 children and lived happily ever after. 76 year dating, and 71 years married! Woo-hoo!

However, there are things to note about this special couple. This man went to war and came back wounded- very wounded. He was in the hospital for weeks. His story is below- and its quite a tale. I mention this esp because this is the ONLY time he has been in the hospital in his entire life- until now.

A GI's WWII Experience


They worked very hard- both coming from poor families, no college degrees, and his wife never worked or drove a car.

I have memories beyond memories of these two. Quite a pair- they never, ever stopped giving.

Favorite quotes:

"Many hands make light work"

"Give it with a warm hand"

"Cur non" - "Why Not"

Its never about the money. I don't care about money- its just a thing- but my grandparents changed WORLDS with their generous hands- and the most generous part is that they never had it themselves.

They paid for my college. Part of my sister's college. They contributed towards our wedding. And the most giving thing of all- random love notes filled with a 20 or a 10 or a 100 to let us know he cared.

I've wanted to share for a LONG time (well, 3 years) the most moving thing he has ever done. Well, never mind- he moves me everyday- but something for the books.

Their 90th birthday party. he had it all figured out. He booked the hotel, restaurant, the band, everything for the best party in 90 years. And let me tell you- it was! We had a blast! At the end he passed out each family- 12 envelopes total and said there was a check inside that he wanted us to spend. But we could open the envelope till Tuesday (it was Saturday night) and he would know if we did. But first, we had to write what we would do with it- and send it back to him that Monday. No saving- just spending!

And- of course- he matched the church


I wont tell you what was in it- but it changed all of our lives.

That's just what they do. Its just what He does.


I love him, I honor him, I cherish him. He's still here tonight and I pray one day I will have a son to honor him for my lifetime.

****forgive me for a rambling post about an amazing man I am not quite ready to lose to heaven****