"The Box"

"THE BOX"

  I finally did it today.  

   I’ve put it off for over four years; Going through “The Box.”  

   Ever since we left South Dakota in 2008, there has been this box labeled, “Todd’s Junk.”  Full of old notebooks from College (and found one from High School!) and cattle records, sermon notes, calendars, awards, etc.  After he died, I tried a couple times to go through it, and just couldn’t.  I had dug around it in before the funeral because I thought for sure the track he had written back in 1992 was in there, and we wanted everyone to have a copy at the funeral, but I just couldn’t seem to ever get myself to sort through all those memories.

   I’m not sure what made me go through it today, I just happened to step into the guest bedroom, and saw it sitting there on the floor, and said, “Today’s the day.”  

   Some time ago, I had placed an empty plastic tub beside it, for the day that would come when I was strong enough to go through it.   I placed in it today, those things that are ‘keepers’ in the memory of Todd.  His notes from Bible College were kept, along with all his sermon notes, but the High School notebook went in the throw pile.  His large collection of maps went in the throw pile too, along with old cattle records of cows that have long ago become someones burger.

   One of the most precious items, wasn’t something that Todd had written, but I had written, but he had kept.  “The Ode to Mr. Odd”, for those that know the name, yes, this was a Keeley Rooer character skit I have done for years.  Yup, Keeley Rooer has been around for a long time (actually several years before this record).  It was written for a Valentine’s Banquet in 1990
we had here in Kenmare while we pastored Grace Christian Fellowship.  It told of the many ways I loved him, in a fashion that only Keeley can tell.  I sat crying and laughing as I read through it, and then went and read it to Kristi, proving to her how long I’ve been doing this character Keeley Rooer.  And also I closed with, “See, Kristi, I loved your Dad, very much,” to which she said, “I know.”  

   Another precious jewel, was a small record of us meeting different people, while we lived in Steele ND.  Todd had just met Terry Smokov, and they had invited us out to their house for dinner.  I love how he put it, “We just met this couple, but somehow I feel our hearts are knit together.”  Terry and Donna, I still believe this.  Getting to see you last fall, is living proof there was (and is) a friendship there. 😃  Love you guys!

    The throw away pile is too heavy for me to carry down the stairs alone, so I’ll have to wait till Kristi is home from work to get rid of the unnecessary items.  I don’t think I will be needing those old Semen catalogs, and since they’re greatly outdated, they will do no one else any good either.  But the pages of sermon notes he preached, I look forward to reading through someday.  Although, Todd’s notes were pretty sketchy. A few main thoughts and a few scriptures, but I can still hear his heart.

    Sometimes, it's really hard when all you have left is, some old notebooks, and calendars, and of course some pictures of the one you loved the most on this planet.  But I’m thankful to have loved greatly, and he loved back.  

   You were the best pard ever Todd! Miss you!

Page one of the Ode to Mr Odd

Page two

    

From the Season of Panic to the Season of Sorrow

This is one of the last things Todd wrote and gave to me.  This was a couple of years before he died. He was loosing his ability to write, but could still do a little bit at this point. A few months later, he didn't even know how to write his own name any more.  He always believed in me, and said I was the best thing that ever happened to him.  This note is one of my most cherished gifts from him.  

Todd use to call this time of year, his season of panic.  You see, gift giving wasn’t exactly his strong point, in fact, I don’t think that kind of thinking crossed his mind too often.  So why the panic?  Well, there is Christmas, then the following week, our anniversary, then two weeks later my birthday.  So within three weeks, he had the three “biggies” of gift giving.  It always sent him into panic mode, which usually resulted in him doing nothing. Poor guy.  I’d drop hints, make suggestions, but it rarely helped.  Occasionally, he would come up with something for one of those events that was quite creative and thoughtful.  But those times were few and far between.  A few times, by mistake, he bought a birthday card and gave it to me for Christmas, I’d chuckle at the crossed off “happy birthday” and the hand written in Merry Christmas, but at least he had made the effort.  One time, I asked him if he had even read the card before he bought it and signed it and gave it to me, and he asked me why I’d say that.  I said, “because it says Happy Birthday, not Merry Christmas. :-)”.  Then he’d give me a sheepish grin that only Todd could give, and we’d both be laughing.

But now, he’s gone, and he no longer has to panic this time of year.  For me this time of year has turned into my season of sad memories.  It starts with his birthday in November, then we move to today, (Dec. 22) the anniversary of his death or better said, departure from this world to his new home in heaven.  Then there’s Christmas without him, then a week later, what would have been our Anniversary but now also the anniversary of his funeral, then two weeks later, my birthday without him here.

Sometimes I’m not sure how I should process all this.  To just ignore these days, seems wrong and unhonoring to Todd, but to mope and be sad seems wrong too.  He’s celebrating in heaven face to face with Jesus, and I don’t think he’d want me to be all sad and down.  Todd was one of the most positive persons I have ever known.  I use to say, even his blood was positive (A+).  I on the other hand, have always tended to see things from the negative point of view, and yes, even my blood flows negative. (O-). I’m not sure blood type has anything to do with our actual view of things, but it tended to flow that way with us.  I’ve had to learn to live more positive, though that doesn’t come naturally to me.  It’s a constant battle to change my way of thinking.

So today, on this mile-marker day, I choose to rejoice. I choose to be positive. I choose to live life to it’s fullest.  I choose life.  And in doing that, I believe honors Todd.

  Love and miss you Todd!

Thinking of him today.

   

Happy birthday in heaven Todd.

   She sat staring at his picture.  How could he really be gone. But life was all too real, she knew it to be truth, as it had been almost four years since she felt the warmth of his hand in hers.  How she longed for one more conversation with him. One where he could communicate back.  That had all been stolen away.  Though only gone four years, his communication had been gone long before that.  

     In these years when they looked forward to doing the things they had always dreamed of, she sat alone, knowing this was not part of their dreams.  Widowhood was not in the plan at all.  They use to have teeshirts that said, “Two are better than one, for if one falls, the other is there to pick them up.” Now there was no one left to help her up when she fell down.  The kids did their best in sending love and encouraging words like, “Mom, you can do this, you can make it.”  She felt his love through them. 

    She thought about how her life was almost robbed of these precious children, a product of their love.  They stood long and hard on God’s Word, knowing God wanted them to raise a family in His ways.  But years after year, it looked hopeless.  God finally stepped in, and three miracles were born, a fourth growing up in heaven.  She had experienced God’s faithfulness.

    So she knows that even though she sits alone, God will be faithful to her.  She will make it through.  She knows the strength she has found walking through this dark valley, is one that can be shared to encourage others to make it through their valley too.  

(Sometimes I find myself writing in third person.) 

Saying Goodbye for me but Hello Again for Todd

  The man walked slowly along the beautiful river. The clearness and the sparkles in the water somehow always refreshed his soul. But then again, it was the River of Life, Heaven  has a way of making all things beautiful.  The man couldn’t hardly think back when he walked the shores of the Missouri river here on earth, those were all a distant memory, the greatness and beauty of heaven overshadowing all that he left behind on earth.

   Suddenly he heard a sound in the distance, that shook him out of his beautiful surroundings. A distant memory. Could it be? Is it really?

   From over a small hill came a man dressed in white, and beside him, a bounding black and white dog.  The man smiled and laughed and let out his ‘whistle.’ At that the dog took off at a dead run, and leapt into the man's arms as he approached.  “Quito” he whispered. The loving dog licked his face, the reunion was cherish by both man and dog.

   The man in white approached as the man and his dog rolled in the green grass, laughing with a joy only a reunion like this could explain. The man in white spoke as the two laughed on.  “She asked him if he wanted to come play with you today.  The tears were running down her face, as she had to let him go to come to you. Here there is no sorrow, but on earth, the tears are flowing."  

    “Is she really sad?” the man asked. 

    “Yes," said the man in white, “Sadder than you can imagine.  For she held onto him as her last connection to you.  She cared for him greatly even here when he was fading, and her heart was breaking as she knew he would be leaving her soon.”  

    “I wish I could see her, and tell her it’s ok. Not to cry anymore, as there’s no tears here.”  said the man.  

   Suddenly a veil was rolled back, and the man could see her on earth.  Sitting in her back yard crying, as the raindrops were softly falling all around her.

   “Tears from heaven.” she said quietly.

   “What is she doing?” the man asked.

   “What do you think she’s doing?” the man in white asked.

   “Writing.  She always loved to write.  She could always put on paper, the deep words of her heart.”

     “Yes, that’s what she is doing.” said the man in white.

     “Can we tell her we love her, and it’s ok?” said the man.

     “I’ll tell her, but I think she already knows.”

   The scene suddenly changed to earth, and the women sitting alone with tears streaming down her face.

   “Thank you Lord for a loyal pet, who loved me, and was always so concerned about me.  When one loves deeply, the sorrow is ever so deep too.  But I know you can turn my sorrow into dancing, my sadness into joy.  But for this moment, I weep, because I just lost my best fur friend I’ve ever had. Have Todd take care of him now up in heaven, and tell, them it really won’t be long, and we’ll all be together.”

   With that the woman closed her computer screen, and went back into the house.  She saw the dog's water and food dish by the back door, and there was a catch in her throat.  This time he’s not coming back, there’s no need for it any more.  She emptied the food back into the food bin to give to a friend who has a dog.  The water dish she put away, her heart breaking for the empty spot it left.

     She looked at the painting she had painted a year ago, of the two of them together. “Well, they're together again,” she said with a tear rolling down her cheek.  “Loved you both so very much. You’ll always be in my heart.”

______________

“Quito”  spring of 2006- July 20, 2017.  Our beloved border collie.

Today I said good bye to the best dog ever!  Quito captured the hearts of everyone that met him.  This last few years he had retired from being a cattle dog, and had become an excellent 'greeter' at Alive Christian Fellowship.  He always made people feel welcome and loved.  He cared greatly for those who were hurting, and would often come and lay his head in their lap to give his comfort in the only way he knew.
Last night he seizured, and was no longer able to get up and walk. The vet discovered a large mass on his spleen, so large that it had pushed his intestines out of place.  This explains his moans in the last month or more and also his dropped appetite.  His blood count was low so very possibly he was bleeding internally too.  It was the hardest decision of all to say good bye to such a loyal pet.  Love you so much Quito.
I'm sure Todd is having fun playing with you now.