Joyaversary

Joyaversary, is what my family remembers on Nov. 22. Eight years ago my father died and went to be with Jesus. My brother made the term, Joyaversary, to remember dad's entrance into God's presence.

It seems that each November something happens that reminds me of dad. This year is was a program at the Appleton Public Library. Carolann and I took the kids to see Larry Penn, a folk singer and song writer. He told stories of life on the old rail road and sang old folk songs that were popular back when the railroad was in it's prime. His style of music and of course the railroad themes reminded me of dad. In fact, I think if dad would still be here he would have loved this music.

I bought 2 CD's: "The Whiskey's Gone" and "Railroad Queens of the Past" My kids favorite songs are: I'm a little cookie, I've been workin on the railroad, and Run Kate Shelley Run.

After Larry Penn's performance we checked out a book on Kate Shelley. That night in our bedtime routine we read about Kate Shelly and then listened to Larry Penn's railroad music.

All that brought back memories of dad. I remember "helping" him set up the model railroad in the basement. I loved that time. Since I was too little to actually run the train or build the track, dad gave me a little orange caboose and some train cars to play with on the parts of the track that were finished. Later when I was older he let me actually run the train sometime.

I remember vividly one Christmas where the 3 of us kids went shopping for a present for dad. Mom was along to help. We were in the model railroad store I think, and picked out a little motorized railroad hand cart with two little men on it. When you put it on the track the little men would actually move up and down as they traveled along. I remember that little gift communicated a lot of love from us kids to dad. We loved him and the time we had with him.

I look forward to the day when we'll see him again in Heaven.