Jack Snead: July 1926 - October 2006

Well, we're coming up the 2nd year anniversary of my father's death, October 5. Ugh, I hate the thought that I now focus more on the day he died then the day he was born.

Due to our schedule, it turns out we'll be visiting my mom's this weekend anyway. Its awkward and I don't know how you acknowledge someone's loss in a way that shows them respect without making them feel like you're digging up serious pain. Do you get a card? Flowers? Does it just make it all feel like you're reminding them again?

Of course for my mom, it feels like it happened 2 months ago and not 2 years ago. I am always amazed how much my life changed in those 2 years. Two years. Two years and its strange to think my father has missed out on what feels to me to be some of the best years of my life to come. And isn't it just like me to turn my thoughts of the anniversary of his death into it being about me.....

I miss him, but not the man that died. I miss the man who was my childhood Daddy. I don't like to think about him, not because its painful that he died, but I get extremely uncomfortable about what I know the truth of the Bible says. Its truth and yet sometimes I can't get that reality wrapped about my brain. I don't know certain things for sure, and I couldn't and can't change things, but eventually one day I'll know.

They say that our fathers have a direct impact on how we view and perceive our heavenly Father.

I do have to say that despite his anti-God raising ways as I was growing up, there were many things my dad did that God used to show me His character. My father was a gift giver. Does that surprise those of you who have gotten a gift from me? I am a gift giver. I sometimes think I enjoy giving the gift more than the person receiving it. That was my dad. No Barbie Dream House assembly required was too much of a match for him. Perhaps he spoiled me now and then, but isn't that how our heavenly Father is? He is always, always waiting for the opportunity to bless us.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! "(1 John 3).

My father was consistently there. He went to work, came home by 5, ate dinner with us every night. I saw him as the head of the household in the very traditional way.

He loved to entertain. Shocking. He loved to throw a good party. Even costume parties. I have a great memory of my dad dressed up as King Arthur. He loved to cook. He made homemade ice-cream when we lived overseas because you just couldn't GET ice-cream in Egypt in the '70s.

He spray painted the corner of all our windows white to emulate snow during the holidays, because hey, you just couldn't GET snow in Egypt in the '70s. Or now. Maybe Al-Quada can though.

I was very much the apple of his eye. I think I told him I appreciated those things. I hope I did. I'm sure he knows I did love him. And I know in his last days, that was meaningful to him.

The Little Red Flag that got Bigger

Okay, I'll admit it. I was THRILLED about McCain's pick for VP Sarah Palin. But I DID have one small red flag. That was if I truly believed in God's role of the woman as wife and mother, wasn't she sorta NOT doing that? How do you have time to raise/nuture a family of 5 if, you know, you are uber busy? But I decided it was better to ignore the red flag and just be happy "my team" had an interesting VP pick. UGGGH.

Well, today I was listening to a podcast InContext with Michael Easley who was interviewing a pastor Voddie Baucham. I was so impressed with him I checked his website and then got caught up in his blog and my red flag about SP grew as I read his entry about her. I have to say I totally agree with his point about what the Biblical definition of "pro-family" really means.

Click HERE to read it.

P.S.
I also really appreciated his entry on golden boy Obama.

Bringin' Home Da Bacon

I could be a vegetarian if it wasn't for the bacon. They are seriously missing out.

Speaking of bacon, I thought I'd give a quick update on the man who brings home my bacon. And speak not of Kevin.

Danny is home full-time now. (Another reason to consume bacon in a spirit of celebration!) After what seemed forever -- F O R E V E R -- God worked out the details of the perfect job for Danny as a network design engineer. You non-tech folks will just have to remain in the dark as to what that means. He is working for the North Carolina Administration of the Office of the Courts. So basically, he's in the IT dept that helps facilitate the network for the ENTIRE state's judicial branch. Impressive!

And better yet, it takes him 20 minutes (during rush hour) to get to his office which is 8.5 miles away. That means on Fridays, I actually shower, fix my hair, put a little make-up on, drive a short 10 minutes to meet him for lunch. Seriously, this is just too nice.

As if that weren't enough, our work week schedule is as follows: we get up, walk the kids to the bus stop, say our good-byes and walk the dog an hour, have coffee and breakfast together and he's out the door by 7:45 or 8 am. Slug no more! Metro no more!

The most wonderful thing is how God has blessed him with several Christian co-workers. And he's in a job that he will continue to professionally grow in and keeps saying "I'm learning so much, my head is going to explode. These guys here are uber smart."

Thanks to many of you for faithful prayer. We also want to publically thank Rich and Darlene who let Danny "stay" with them over the summer while he was still working in DC. Hope they will always know what a blessing they were to our marriage.