♥ Happy Birthday, Papa ♥

It's been 5 years, 1 month and three days since you went to be with Jesus and we miss your fun personality more than ever! There have been many family gatherings where we sit around and tell stories about how precious and fun you are. One example would be you going to 'court' (and for those of you who don't know, his favorite thing was to watch any program that involved a Judge - AKA Judge Judy...he would watch any of those programs and then give us a play-by-play on what went down and who was in the wrong)! It was pure greatness to listen to his interpretation of the show! There aren't many days that go by that I am flipping through the channels and see one of those judges and I can't help but grin ear to ear! You definitely had us entertained at any given moment. I can't help but think about you and miss you terribly as you would have been 91 years old today!

I wish you were here in person to give some of your great wisdom (and hilarious stories!!!) to all of your great-grandchildren...which happen to be growing by the numbers - 8.5 to be exact (Anna, Kole, Alexie, Ella, Bryce, Kylie, Bella, Jackson, Will and baby Dodd #2 on the way) that could learn a lot from you!

Oh, and I can just imagine you and Kylie together!! She is so full of bull and right up your alley that you and her would have so much to talk about. Not to mention that she loves anything spicy on her food and has even poured Tabasco sauce on her food once when I wasn't looking...you would have been so proud! I just think about all the trouble you two could get in to!

This is one of the last pictures I have of you (before the digital camera days) and I love that you got to meet and love on Alexie. I remember one of the last times we brought the kids over she had us all cracking up...she was into everything! It's hard to tell in this dinosaur-age camera, but you and her have the same eye color!



And of course I had to post this picture of you doing one of your favorite things...cooking (or at least OUR favorite thing...eating YOUR cooking)! As the Co-Owner of Chimes Cafe for 38 years you were always cooking up some good grub for us!


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After our Papa passed away on February 15, 2005, I wrote this little poem just to remind us all about some of our favorite things!



Happy Birthday, Precious Papa! You are the most special brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend anyone could ever ask for. We miss you so much and look forward to the day we will meet again! L♥ve you!!

ps - WOOOOOOO-OOOOOOOOOO