Summer school over

Yesterday I finished teaching Camp Edventure. I did have quite a few challenging students in my class, but I still really enjoyed it. It was strange this morning not to get up and go teach. The kids and I got a few chores done this morning and then I had my haircut and took the kids to the pool. Bruce had been gone the last couple of days but was home again tonight. I made ranch chicken pitas-they were really good and healthy too!

Now I need to start getting some major cleaning done and finish some long put off projects, and I need to get ready for a rummage sale in August. I think school starts five weeks from tomorrow. The summer is flying by so fast.

One year later

Today marks the first anniversary of my dad's passing. It's hard to believe that it's been a whole year since he left his earthly home for his heavenly home. It's been a year of adjustment. I miss him more than ever, but the tears are less often now.

I count myself lucky to have had such a wonderful father. He was always so gentle, patient, forgiving, and just a peaceful person to be around. I just really miss his presence. I am so thankful that all my kids remember and have memories of him.

I copied the eulogy that my brother wrote and read at dad's funeral It really sums up my dad.

"I'm Laurence's son, Loren Jorgensen, and I'd like to say a few words in memory of my Dad.

All of you that knew my Dad know that he was a character. He enjoyed the simple things in life and people in general, often prompting conversations with complete strangers. On the other hand, he could also fall asleep on a whim at events or with the family. And if for some reason you never saw him napping at an event you were at with him we have plenty of pictures here to prove I’m not lying. However, when he was awake, he could always keep the conversation lively with his funny but interrogating questions, teasing, favorite sayings. All of my or my sister Nancy’s friends or our spouses seem to recall meeting my Dad and being asked if they did drugs, were rich and what kind of car they drove.

Being the youngest of 7, he got teased a lot and as a result learned how to tease back. In junior high, he knew he could get a rise out of me simply by putting his arm around me in public. He had nicknames for me and all his grandkids,,,, until Samantha. He would call her Gina. But unexpectedly, she turned it around on him by calling him Gina and that became his family nickname. I don't think he liked it much; after that it became Grandma and Gina.

In addition to being his own man, he was also a very loving husband, father and grandparent too. He always loved visiting with his farm friends and keeping in touch with his extended family.

He spent his first 40+ years as a bachelor. During that time he worked on the farm with his dad a lot. He enjoyed fairs, parades and traveling. He traveled the country one year. I always remember him telling me he saw the USA in a Chevrolet. He enjoyed being single but it wasn't fulfilling for him, and he would always tell me, "What is life without a wife!?" When I was single, he would encourage me to get married, since he was happier being married to my mom. He really loved my Mom a lot. He was 41 years old when he got married, and they got to spend over 40 years together. But, when he did get in trouble, with my mom, he would keep things light by telling us “It gives her something to talk about.” I’ll be keeping that phrase for personal use.

He was a wonderful father as well. Although, he was a man of few words, he always did have good advice when I or my sister needed it and related to me or knew what to do to get a laugh. He took pride in Nancy and I, unconditionally. And that meant a lot to us both.

I always admired my dad’s approach to life. He seldom worried and just took life as it came to him day by day. I believe he internalized Matthew 6:34 from the Bible, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Even during his last days in the hospital he had the nurses and his family laughing when we weren't crying from his struggle and seeing the pain he was in. A nurse asked if he was going to bite her when she did something and he jokingly showed her his teeth and growled “I'm a great Dane”.

He also lived what the bible verse Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” My Dad displayed these to us constantly through his character.

Although my Dad didn't talk publicly about his faith much, when he was 62 he made the decision to get baptized and accept Christ in his life. And since, in life, he did what he wanted to do, I know the decision came from his own heart. And because of this, although heartbroken, I am assured in my heart of his eternal future. Despite his 43 days of suffering in the hospital, he was at peace when he left us.

We all love you Dad and will really miss you."

Today at school, I let the kids have reading time outside and I was sitting near a couple kids and somehow we got talking about how old grandparents and parents were, etc. and I had mentioned to one that my dad had died a year ago today. The little boy said, "So it's the first anniversary of his death." I replied, "I like to think of it as his first birthday in heaven." The little boy said that sounded nice.

So today marks my dad's first birthday in heaven. Happy Birthday dad, I love and miss you!