My Daddy

...always let me sit on his lap, no matter how big I got. And I always felt safe and secure and loved there.
...went back to college when he was my age to get his bachelor's degree. He never officially finished, but he also never stopped learning. He was incredibly smart.
...was a great Bible teacher. I guess I quoted him too much, because friends and fellow church members frequently assumed he was a pastor.
...loved sports. Especially Razorback sports. (I was going to say Razorback football, but then thought maybe I should say Razorback basketball--it's a toss-up.)
...was hilarious. When he started telling a story (and my whole family loves to tell stories) you had to watch to see if he held up his right hand (true) or his left hand (not-so-true).
...loved people, and let them know it. He told us with his eyes, his hugs, and his words. He could even make awkward teenaged girls feel pretty.
...talked through gritted teeth when he was angry.
...shook with silent laughter or guffawed out loud when he was amused.
...held Jessica and Mikayla up to his face when they were born and said, "Your Grandad loves you!" I like to think he said the same thing from heaven when Rebecca was born.
...looked incredibly handsome in his Navy uniform.
...had a huge, productive, orderly garden full of delicious potatoes, green beans, purple hull peas, etc.
...called his mother Honey.
...loved music. He was drum major for the Pine Bluff Zebra marching band in high school. He played clarinet in a jazz band called "Stardust" in New Orleans and other places, which is how he was able to go on a group date with Elvis Presley and Jim Ed Brown. Later he was the song leader, as we called it then, at Dale City Baptist Church. I loved hearing him sing bass in church or as we sang 4-part harmony on car trips.
...would say, "Hogwash, Falderal, and Balderdash" when he didn't believe what you were saying.
...used to sing my brothers and I to sleep with the tune of "Amazing Grace" but saying our names over and over agin.
...loved my mother with the most romantic, enduring love I've ever seen.
....walked with God.