Middlesex United Methodist Church, Middlesex, Vermont
It seems fitting to finish the same subject series with the church where we held Dad's memorial service. He attended this church for about 10 years (maybe more?) and the folks here really went all out in helping us pay homage to him.
I thought I'd share with you some of the things I shared about Dad during the memorial service.
It's not hard to have special memories about a man like my Dad. Here are some of mine:
- the pancakes he'd make for us on Saturday mornings
- the fish ponds and gardens he'd always have in the backyard
- the dollhouse he and my mom copied and built out of the F. A. O. Schwartz catalog
- going to his office in NYC and watching the boats go up and down the Hudson River from his window. I thought he had the most wonderful office in the world!
- his sense of humor. One Christmas he got an ugly tie as a gag gift. He pretended to love it (to the surprise of the prankster gift-giver). The following year he wrapped it up and gave it back!
- he made the world's best saucer runs which went from the back most corner of our back yard, around the house and out through the front yard in to a snow bank.
- his good advice. I wanted to leave college the first semester of my sophomore year. He wisely told me to wait until the end of the semester and that if I still felt that way, I could leave. Of course by that time, I was fine!
- his love for my mother- loving her through sickness and health when it would have been easy to give up
- the pleasure I heard in his voice when I told him the name of his first great-grandson, "Samuel Sherwood" he kept repeating. (Sherwood being after him)...
My father was a pillar of strength throughout my life and demonstrated to me the attributes of faith, loyalty, steadfastness and perseverance. He had a very wry sense of humor, a stubborn streak and a giving heart. I'm certain that I inherited a love for bird feeders from him as well as clever ways to battle the squirrels who also love them. And I think I may have picked up a bit of that stubborn streak too. But most of all I realize that a good part of who I am today is due to his confidence in my abilities and discernment, and his enduring love for me, even when I didn't deserve it. My father taught me that dependable was not an adjective, rather it is an action joined together with integrity. Above all he manifested the love of my Heavenly Father so that when I was ready to commit my life to Christ, I understood just how great God's love truly is. I am thankful that his last words ("I'm going home." and "I live.") not only spoke of how he lived, but also about where he is now.
@mrssmith Thank you Carla- it was a lovely last look as we were leaving the building after the calling hours on Friday. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
Gorgeous photo .... the stained glass is so beautiful. You comment left me teary-eyed. What a great man your father was. You are his daughter, indeed. He left you with a great legacy .... to love God and your fellow man.
The timelessness of the shot fits well with the image you paint of your father. I wonder how he would have reacted to one of my father's gorgeously decorated perfectly weighted and shaped chocolate cakes - made out of foam rubber with weights between the layers. Or, just possibly the real thing, baked from scratch and too delicious to pass up the opportunity. You never knew which one you had in front of you.
That is a beautiful tribute Ann, and I've been thinking about you for the past few days. Hope all is well. And I know God will take you through this journey in peace.
@dmariewms lol Marie- oh I'm sure he would have come up with some crafty sort of counter attack- it the cake wasn't real! Can you imagine??!! @kimmistephens Thank you Kimmi! @rhubbard Thank you so much Rich. @digitalrn Thank you Rick- I truly appreciate your thoughts! @prttblues Thank you Bev- yes, I know I've been very blessed in this respect. I don't take it for granted! @smithak Thank you Smitha! @sarasdadandmom Thank you Terry- yes it's a very small town and has a quirky side to it, but the church is quite small and lovely. @sangwann Thank you Dione. They were very caring and really loved having my father as part of their congregation.
Thanks again to everyone for your kind words and heartfelt thoughts. I can't tell you how much they have impacted me throughout this time, but they were a tremendous help.
@potsbypam Thank you Pam. I'm glad. I didn't want to overdo the memorials but this seemed appropriate for the day. I so appreciate all your kind words and prayers for me during this time! It's been a real blessing.
Oh my goodness I am in tears! My dad exhibits many of the qualities your dad did and I'll never forget that dollhouse he built for me. I have enjoyed looking through your series of photos. What nice memories you have. He sounds like a truly great man who will be missed by many.
@vickisfotos Thank you Vicki. I took this shot at twilight (around 8:15 pm EST)- a beautiful time of day and just perfect for that glow in the church windows.
@lyno Lyn you are very kind to say that! I think that my faith is what helps me to see a lot of things the way I see them. I know that many folks don't, but it is one of the deepest parts of who I am.
June 15th, 2012
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@filsie65 Thank you Phil!
@httpgeffed Thank you Colleen!
@groovygirlrn Thank you Sheri!
It's a pretty little church isn't it?
@tammy73 Thanks Tammy. Well, in my humble opinion he was! Thank you for those kind words.
@kimmistephens Thank you Kimmi!
@rhubbard Thank you so much Rich.
@digitalrn Thank you Rick- I truly appreciate your thoughts!
@prttblues Thank you Bev- yes, I know I've been very blessed in this respect. I don't take it for granted!
@smithak Thank you Smitha!
@sarasdadandmom Thank you Terry- yes it's a very small town and has a quirky side to it, but the church is quite small and lovely.
@sangwann Thank you Dione. They were very caring and really loved having my father as part of their congregation.
Thanks again to everyone for your kind words and heartfelt thoughts. I can't tell you how much they have impacted me throughout this time, but they were a tremendous help.