Friday, March 21, 2014

Mixed Up Media Chix Birthday Blog Hop -- and Friends With Flair!




Hello, everyone, and happy Friday! You should have arrived here from the beautiful and uber talented Tracy's blog.
I've always been one to just "go with it" and not follow directions very well.  It was AFTER I got my piece ready for today that I remembered it was supposed to be a birthday themed hop.  Oh well.  I'm the artist. And not very good at directions!  But hey, I'm going to tie it all together, I promise!
Back on July 9, 1930, a very special man was born. That same special man died on March 11, 2014.  This art journal page is in his memory.


My father lived his 83 years to their fullest, making many friends and touching many lives.  I think this quote describes him well.  He LIVED all of his wild and precious days.  He didn't just exist.

I included some poppies on this page because red was his favorite color.  He wore it often, and whenever he bought flowers for my mother, they were always red. Plus, he was the one in the family with a green thumb.


See all those butterflies?  He's there, finding his way to heaven, watching over me as he goes. Into the rainbow cloud.

This is the last photo I have of my Dad.  It was taken 4 days before he died.  He was always smiling and joking.  I'll miss that smile!

All stamps used are by Unity Stamp Company.  I used acrylic paints, a Studio Calico mask, Faber-Castell Pitt pens, and a variety of Tim Holtz distress inks.
I'd like to leave you with the eulogy I gave at my father's funeral last Saturday, but I realize not all of you may want to read it, so here's the link to the talented Sally's blog if you'd like to hop ahead.
If you're still with me, here's my tribute to my father:

First, I want to thank you all for coming.  Our dad was such a humble man.  He would have been so surprised at the number of people here today.  I remember his 80th birthday party.  He was so nervous beforehand, thinking no one would come.  I reminded him that he and mom’s 50th anniversary had over 300 guests.  His response, “they were all there because of your mother.”  As I said, he was a very humble man.

Dad had a great sense of adventure, and was a bit of a daredevil.  He passed this on to his children.  We were both waterskiing on the front of his skis by age 3, and by the time we were 4, we were on our own.  Mom, who was not so adventurous, had many frightening moments through the years watching her children climb trees, scale cliffs, run marathons, complete Ironmans.  We both got that from our father.

Dad loved to ride his bike.  He was riding 20 and 30 miles a day well into his 70’s.  He finally stopped after he crashed one too many times, but he missed it terribly.  That’s when he started walking.  Even last summer, he was walking 2-3 miles each day.  People would see him all over the streets of Chetek, pushing his walker, smiling and waving, sitting down when he got tired.  I got many phone calls of people checking on my dad, making sure I knew he was so far from home, or asking if I would pay his tab later for the coffee he had just charged.  Oh the joys of living in “small town Chetek”.

Dad had a green thumb, and took great pride in his yard.  He and his neighbor in Eau Claire, Bob, had quite a competition to see who’s yard was greener and who’s was the most perfectly mown.  He loved his yard and spent hours watering, fertilizing, and mowing it.

He loved to sing.  He sang in choirs for years.  He enjoyed his years in the E.C. Male Chorus, and the Hope Lutheran Choir.  One of the hardest things he gave up was the choir at Hope.  He was a member for over 50 years, and took great pride in the bass section. 

He and mom spent at least 12 winters in Mesa, AZ.  I often visited them there.  We loved to go on hikes in the desert.  One of those winter visits, we hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, spent a night at Phantom  Ranch, and hiked back up.  This is no easy hike.  Depending on the route, it is 12 miles there, and a shorter, but steeper, 10 mile return trip.  My parents were in their late 60’s at the time, the oldest ones in the entire ranch by 20 years.  We were all very proud of their accomplishment.  Dad wore a shirt with pride for many years that said “I made it to the bottom and back”.  He always said, “I earned it!”

In closing, I want to share one of my most special memories of Dad.  Not too long ago, while riding with me in the car, he turned to me and said, “You know, Julie, I feel bad.”  “Why?” I asked.  “Some nights I fall asleep before I get my prayers finished.”  Well, that just touched me. “Some nights, I fall asleep before I finish my prayers.”  Wouldn't  this world be a better place if we all fell asleep while praying?  Thank you, Dad, for the many lessons in life you taught me.

Thanks for hanging until the end, my blog friends, now off to Sally's blog.  Enjoy the hop!

31 comments:

  1. It's a beautiful and touching eulogy, Julie. Your father sounds like he was a wonderful man. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Your gorgeous journal page looks like a perfect tribute, and I hope that making it helped ease your pain if only for a moment.
    Hugs, Shona

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  2. Sorry for your loss Julie. It is really hard losing a parent My prayers go out for you. Beautiful cardHave a blessed day, my friend
    DIANA L.
    dianamlarson.blogspot.com

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  3. Beautiful way to remember his day.. may the flights of butterflies aiming towards the clouds remind you and make you smile of your father.. knowing he is in heaven forever and always smiling and thinking of you.. :)

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  4. What a great tribute!!! And I love your page! Thanks for being a part of the hop!

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  5. Such a beautiful page, the colors are extraordinary! Lovely tribute to your father :)

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  6. My sympathy on the loss of your father. Father's have a special place in a daughter's heart and it is hard to lose them. Sometimes it is best for them to go - even though we don't want to give them up. . We just have to carry on and live the way they taught us, keepingthem in our thoughts as we go through life.

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  7. Beautiful and heartfelt tribute to your much loved Dad Julie, he would be so very proud of you.Sending live and hugs your way.
    Tracy xxx

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  8. Fabulous projects, Julie. So sorry for your loss. Lovely tribute to your dad.

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  9. A beautiful tribute and a beautiful page for what sounds like a man who thoroughly enjoyed his life - we could all learn a lesson here. My warmest sympathies on your loss - I hope your many happy memories bring you comfort!

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  10. Sounds like the world has lost a good one, Julie. I know you will miss him dearly. The journal page with the flurry of butterflies is just wonderful. Sending a hug.

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  11. Beautiful page and wonderful tribute. Sorry for your loss. It is a tough time but time will ease the pain.

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  12. Isnt that just a great sentiment for the page :) Lovely to read your tribute for your dad xxx

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  13. What a beautiful page honoring your father, Julie. Your tribute has brought tears to my eyes. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if we all had a story like this to tell. Heartfelt hugs my friend.

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  14. Aww now im crying!! Just lovely Julie! {hugs}

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  15. oh julie, i am so sorry for your loss. your father sounds like a vibrant and wonderful man. you gave him such a beautiful tribute. xoxo
    -Rachel
    rwkrafts.com

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  16. Julie...I am so sorry for the loss of your dad. The eulogy and page are an amazing tribute to him. And, some nights I fall asleep before I get my prayers finished too. :)

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  17. Julie, what a wonderful tribute to your awesome father (I made it to the end). I can see now so many things in you that came from him (like your love of the outdoors and how easy it is for you to touch people).

    You did tie this together and it's so appropriate for the birthday hop! :)

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  18. Oh Julie, what a wonderful tribute to your Dad. Both the art and the eulogy are wonderful. He was lucky to have a daughter as wonderful as you.

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  19. Julie, I love your page, and how your dad has inspired it. Your eulogy is beautiful, and though it's heartbreaking to lose your dad, you are SO lucky to have such a wonderful man as your father. I hope time heals the pain in your heart. Big Hugs!!

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  20. Julie--Such a touching eulogy and mixed media page. My Dad will be 80 in December and he still rides motorcycles as often as once or twice a week. Hugs--Patti

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  21. That's such a beautiful eulogy and page to honor your dad... *hugs*!

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  22. What a wonderful sentiment and tribute to your dad. What better way to remember someone who was obviously well loved.

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  23. What a touching and heartfelt eulogy. And the tribute page to your dad with all the meaning to each element...WOW just WOW

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  24. very nice tribute to your dad.

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  25. I saw your project on the Unity Blog, never expecting it to touch me as much as it did. . .Your Dad reminds me a lot of the way my Dad was ~ I hope they meet and they can talk about their wonderful daughters together. . .thank you for reminding me how wonderful & special my Dad was. . .<3

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  26. Sorry for your dad and at the same time I admire your attitude. I feel your dad was a great man. I lost mine when I was 10 and everyday there is somethimg to remind me about him.

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  27. Sorry for your loss Julie. It's always hard to lose a loved one...especially a parent. God be with you.

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  28. Beautiful journaling page and what wonderful memories of such a special man. He sounds like he touched everybody's life for the better and not many people can say that! I'm so glad you have a mountain of fabulous memories and I'll look forward to seeing some layouts about those (*hint, hint*). I'm so sorry for your loss (been there, I know how awful it can be) but they live on in our hearts. It's also fun to "visit" with him when he makes guest appearances in my dreams. Hang in there! But most of all, Julie - I'm so glad you had such a rockstar father! Not many people can say that!

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  29. I'm so glad I found your blog, Julie. ((((Hugs)))) I'm praying for you.

    Patti

    p.s. my dad was born July 9 1929 : )

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  30. Julie, I'm so sorry that you lost your Dad. He sounds like someone everyone would be lucky to have known. I loved reading about him and am so touched by your post. I lost my Dad in 2001. It was incredibly difficult for me. I'm thinking of you and send much love. <3

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