A Long Weekend and a Farewell to Pop

Well, it was another long weekend - but not by choice, unfortunately. On Thursday my Pop died. He was 92. So in addition to all of the goings-on of our weekend, I've decided to leave a little tribute here to a really great man. A hard working man from a family of 13 kids who quit school after the 7th grade to work in the cotton fields. A honorable man who was given a good job and a home to live in by someone who thought much of him. A fun man who was always picking at me and enjoying his family. My Pop was full of love. Loved his girls, loved his grandchildren, loved his puppy, loved to fish, and just knew how to love others. I remember him bouncing me on his knee and giving me a dollar every time I visited. He came to my dance recitals and let me pick carrots out of his garden (and didn't even get upset when I picked the ones that were obviously not ready!). He named all of his dogs Brownie or Blackie or Ring. He loved Pepsi-Cola and could eat a bag of chocolates in one sitting (we won't talk about how much he shared with the dog). The last 8 years or so had been hard on Pop - diagnosed with Alzheimers and losing his memory. Until the end he was full of joy and always happy. So here are some pictures and fond memories. I remember a sermon my favorite pastor preached once about leaving a legacy. Pop certainly left a legacy. :) I know that he is no longer in pain and enjoying the everlasting life that was promised to him. LOVE YOU POP!

Pop and his puppy. Its rare that you didn't see Pop holding her. This is the freshest memory in my head. Many times when I visited he was sitting right here. He would always tell me how pretty I was when I walked through the door.

Pop pushing me through the snow on a shovel! :)

One of MANY dance recitals he endured. This was the American Bandstand year.

Pickin tomatoes in the garden - boy did he grow some GOOD vegis!!


Pop got to meet Kate at Christmas. He also got to see her several times when Mom worked over there during the week. He always said "That's a fine baby, a pretty baby."

After the funeral on Saturday (which was just beautiful by the way), we managed our usual relaxing weekend: Bark to the Park, Starbucks, pancakes, and home tours. Kate gets cuter every day, and I may be imagining it, but I swear her hair is starting to grow! Hold on to your socks kids.. this post seems to be getting even longer than our long weekend! :)


Don't you just love the hat?! Don thinks she looks Australian. We have an Australian Shepherd. I think it fits...

Wow...

Foz loving Bark to the Park. He was impressed by the Frisbee show the most.


Don and Kate - who has spotted the pink poodle.


The kids! Kate's stylin' in a pair of khakis with embroidered flowers and a cool blue shirt. She loves Baby Gap.


Mom and I took a break on Sunday to visit the "Dream Home" in Columbia. Kate tagged along in her first outing in the Baby Bjorn. She was WONDERFUL! She loves to look at things. Her favorite part was the GIANT TV. It made her jump. :)