Two years ago this morning, my Dad passed away. To me, the date April 14th has now been redefined forever. As this date neared, and ultimately arrived, I have had many folks share their warm thoughts, prayers, and feelings with my family and I, regarding the support we all welcome in tough times. Several folks have alluded to the idea that my Dad is in heaven and looking down on me, or watching Continue Reading...
Lights
(Originally posted on April 7, 2017) The Northern Lights forecast that I check periodically. Late on the evening of March 29, 2017, somewhere around 11:00 pm, I was compelled to check a website that I check off and on, throughout the year. I am not sure why I was prompted to check this site on that night but I did. As you can see in the picture above, the forecast for Wednesday night was a 6! Continue Reading...
Lights
Late on the evening of March 29, 2017, somewhere around 11:00 pm, I was compelled to check a website that I check off and on, throughout the year. I am not sure why I was prompted to check this site on that night but I did. Continue Reading...
The Railing
16 weeks have passed. The days come, and they go. The hours are filled with the monotony of routine, and the tasks that seem to work their way into every open time slot. There is so much activity that requires nearly no thought. Then, there's the stuff that gets done while going through the motions. Maybe while thinking about what's next on the list. But then, in the midst of the mundane, you Continue Reading...
Hardest One To Lose
I don't know which is the harder one to lose; the one you love, or the one who dearly loved you. ~ Steve Beal Sr. 2016. Continue Reading...
Father’s Day Gleam
June 18, 2016 - Father's Day Gleam. Tomorrow is Father's Day and I wanted to get this off of my mind before the actual day. Over the last couple of weeks this thought has been creeping into my psyche a little more often every day. Until these last few days, when it has downright bugged me, bothered me, and otherwise haunted me. I asked my wife yesterday, "What am I supposed to do on Father's Day, Continue Reading...
Missing Dad
I'm here in the yard, at the house I grew up in. I mowed the lawn as I usually do. But I'm missing my Dad. He'd be sitting right here, outside in the warm air. We'd be talking about this, or that, or even silently enjoying that which God created. Sharing a mutual respect for the simple things that make life grand. Seven weeks ago today, God took him home. I'm home, and I miss him. I mowed the Continue Reading...
A Dad and This Boy
April 28, 2016: A Dad And This Boy - A poem for my Dad and I. I thought that I was doing pretty well, then came along, this day Two weeks ago today, Dad you were called home, out of the fray Dad, I sat down at my laptop to start writing these thoughts I kept An alert blinked, so I clicked, a picture of us opened up, I wept I have said, I was blessed to do Continue Reading...
The Man is Gone
This morning is a little more quiet than mornings have been recently. See, the crowds are gone. The stash of food prepared for family and visitors has been split and donated. The checklist doesn't have any more boxes to check. There's no nursing home to visit. The hospital room is empty. The seat at the end of the couch is carefully prepped, but shadows only find refuge there this morning. The Continue Reading...
Dad
This morning I woke up for the very first time in 48 plus years, without a Dad. Well, without my Dad living here on this earth. My Dad, John R. Beal, passed away yesterday morning, April 14, 2016. I can honestly say that my initial thoughts and feelings of pain and finality, were followed quickly by the sense of relief that my Dad suffered here no more. Although the former thoughts and Continue Reading...