Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Kent's Message


“HAPPY HALF CENTURY OF BREATHING” You can now join AARP!! The impact that you made the first fifty year is evident by all of the posts and letters that are written. You’re very loved and honored... I know the impact you will make in the next fifty years will be even greater, you're a GREAT BROTHER, Have a WONDERFUL DAY...

Love You

Kent

Birthday Messages from Your Friends & Family

Keith is one of those people in life you meet that make you smile. I’ve known Keith and done business with Rose Aircraft for 25 years. During that time, my experiences with Keith have always been top-notch, and very fair. I’m not sure what we’re going to do now that Keith is hitting the big “5-0,” and will surely have to be contemplating retirement before he’s completely senile. J Keith, may God’s riches blessing flow on you, your family, and your business ventures. I’m confident that, on a daily basis, you’re making our Lord smile along with the rest of us.

Jeffrey R. Lowe
AvFab - Central Airmotive

"Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.'" John 14:6.
**********************************************************************************
Keith

The BIG 50 has made it your way, I guess I can officially call you the OLD MAN. Seriously, you are an inspiration to me, your love for the Lord is apparent, your graciousness is as well, I thank you for all you have done for me and my family.

I hope that your Birthday is a blessed one.

Happy Birthday Brother,
Jason G.
************************************************************************************* Happy Birthday from Will, “lets go fly between some trees”
*************************************************************
From A.L. Hadaway
Happy Birthday, May God continue to shine his light upon you, You are a blessing to me.

Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psa 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
Psa 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
***************************************************************
You wrote me a birthday poem
And your rhyming was superb!
So I’m wishing you Happy 50th!
Is happy birthday a verb?
I already have lunch plans so I can’t take you out that day
But one of these days, you and Lisa and I will go out to play!!!!!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Love, Connie
****************************************************************
Happy 50th! Hope you have a wonderful birthday and a great year.
Go have fun with that AARP card!
Lisa Stauffer
*****************************************************************
Dear Keith,

Happy 50th Birthday from the Fort Smith Symphony Staff! Thank you for all you do to help the Symphony touch the lives of thousands of children across our region with the joy of music! Your support truly makes a difference.

Allison B. Walden -- The Fort Smith Symphony
*****************************************************************
The greatest man is he who chooses the Right with invincible resolution, who resists the sorest temptations from within and without, who bears the heaviest burdens cheerfully, who is calmest in storms and most fearless under menace and frowns, whose reliance on truth, on virtue, on God, is most unfaltering.

This describes Keith... from Heather and Todd Hirsch

*******************************************************************
Dear Keith,

Happy Birthday, young man!

I want to say that it has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to work for you in this new endeavor of the Mena Air Center! When I first was prompted (I believe by the Lord) to write you that letter seeking employment, I did so because I admired you and I admired your company. Now, over four months later, I can say the same, only more so because I have been honored to rub shoulders with you as well as Brenda, Will, and a host of others in your employment.

I appreciate all of the expense in sending me with the crew to Orlando. I learned a lot and I was amazed at all that I saw. Other than walking 350 miles in heels, it was a wonderful experience! Seriously, I want to say thank you for all of it.

May God give you the best years in service to Him this last half of your life as He uses you, your words, and your life to further the gospel of grace, mercy and truth. And may you be blessed in body and in spirit each day as He gives you the strength and the joy to tackle the many tasks that you face. You and your family are an inspiration to me!

Happy Birthday!

Miss Barbie
******************************************************************
Keith, have you burnt any barns lately? (Around 1966-Hatfield)
Happy Birthday, Love Uncle Jim.
*****************************************************************
Keith, Welcome to the Big 5 0, I hear It’s a closer walk to heaven from here.
Love, Aunt Barbara
*****************************************************************
Happy 50th Birthday Keith! How exciting to be half a century years old! That is awesome. Of course I say that with love and grace. I would just like to say that I am so thankful for the opportunity to get to know you over the past year and half. You are a wonderful employer, compassionate friend, and a faithful pastor. Thank you for all you do. Have a fantastic birthday!

Love in Christ,
Alicia Terrell
****************************************************************
Happy 50th young fella, best wishes.
Your Friend Don Havnen
****************************************************************
Happy Birthday Keith
I would make fun of your age but I am not far behind you.
Hope you have a wonderful and blessed birthday.
Cyndie Crider
***************************************************************
Keith!!!! Happy Birthday! I hope it's as wonderful, pleasant, and inspiring as you are.
Jonnie Honse
**************************************************************
Keith, Thanks for everything you have done for my family. We have great love and respect for you and your family. You truly are a wonderful person. Have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY and many many more to come.
Lots of love Crystal Dehart and family!!
**************************************************************
Keith,You have always been a great friend and an awesome mentor in Christ. When I was at DABC, you were a great youth leader and you helped me through a lot of things and to keep me on track. I just wanted to extend a HUGE thank you for that.
Happy Birthday!!!
Tim Davis
**************************************************************
Happy Birthday!
from Jessica Coyle Huddleston
*************************************************************
Well Keith, its finally the big 50, and really life is just beginning! I speak as a wise old sage of 54 years, of course. I want to congratulate you on the biggest accomplishments that I see about your life (up to this point of course.) You are a great family man, and Jesus lover, a man dedicated to integrity and doing the RIGHT thing, and I can't leave out the 2 loveliest things we share, that being the beautiful and spunky Sophie, and the charmingly lovely, and joyful Gracie. We appreciate all you do for the people we love, and hope that this birthday will be one that you will always remember. When I think of you it always includes "doing" for those you love. I thank God for the grandpa, dad, husband, son, father-in-law, and friend that you are. May all blessings come your way for the days the Lord has assigned to you, and may you continue to prosper in all you do.
God Bless and lots of love to you,
Jackie Payette,

"You cannot see faith, but you can see the footprints of the faithful. We must leave behind faithful footprints for others to follow."
*****************************************************************************
Keith. I remember when you were just seven years old running around like like a little twirp picking on everyone in sight. I'm proud to say you ended up a mature young man and that was merely a stepping stone into new places. Birthday happiness unto you. You are truly a man of God.- Tyler Newcomb.
************************************************************************
Keith, these are things you will hear when you turn fifty:
1. Your older than dirt, just ask Jim Rose!
2. Don't let anybody kid you, you have the body of a 19 year old, but give it back, because you are wrinkling it!
3. Your mind is the last thing that goes!
4. You will never feel good again!
5. Ben-gay will become your favorite cologne.

From your grandma's : The sewing room
******************************************************************************
Happy 50th Birthday my dear birthday buddy. I wish I was turning Fifty today!
God bless you and your family in the coming year. You know you just get better looking as the years go by. You believe me don't you? Have a blessed day.

Love you,
Debi Meissner (also born on October 14th)

********************************************************************
Keith,
I'm not as witty as you are so no birthday poem from me.But, I will say "Happy Birthday" to an old man and a great father.

Cheryl
******************************************************************
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH! GO TO THE FARM AND SPEND THE DAY BY YOURSELF SO YOU CAN RELAX AND ENJOY YOURSELF!!
Raymond
*********************************************************************
Uncle Keith,
I love you very much. You have always been there when I needed you. You are a great uncle. Thank you.
Happy Birthday! Abbi
***************************************************************
Keith, may the Lord bless and keep you. And make His face to shine upon you and give you peace! I hope you have a Happy, Happy 50th Birthday!!!!!
Happy Birthday,
Love, Deb
***************************************************************
We wish you the happiest of birthdays. Wish we could be there to celebrate.
Love,The Tuppers, (Wayne, Kim, Zach & Kalee) from Florida..
*****************************************************************
Welcome to the newest member of the 50 and over club.

Best wishes on your birthday.

Tom
*******************************************************************
Happy Birthday to my brother in CHRIST, may the words of the Apostle Paul lift you up and strengthen you as you walk by faith.
Rom. 8:28-31 and Eph. 6:10-18
In CHRISTS Love,
Tony D.
******************************************************************
Querido Hermano en Cristo, gracias a Dios por tu amistad, que Dios te bendiga en tu cumpleanos.
En Cristo Julieta
*******************************************************************
Keith,
Couldn’t pass the chance to wish you A Happy Birthday. WOW! 50!!!
Our history has been a potpourri of experiences over the years. We want you to know that you are loved and respected by Jimmy & me. You are so important to us as our family, a friend, my mentor, my boss, my Pastor and many more levels too numerous to mention.
~Peace and Blessings~
Sandi & Jimmy
*****************************************************************

Happy Birthday, Keith! We love you! And remember, 50 is just a number, a VERY BIG number, yes, but still just a number! Just kidding.. Peace to you! Kelly and family!
Kelly Crawford
**********************************************************************
Uncle Keith, Happy 50th Birthday.
You are such a blessing to have as an uncle and I know you are a blessing to all those you have contact with. I pray that this next year would be your best thus far. I have so many fun memories of you. You're such a great dad to so many girls which takes a real special person. You are always willing to help someone out. You encourage those around you to know the Lord and encourage them in their daily walks and our a huge support when it gets rocky. I know God had some awesome stuff planned for you I can't wait to see what they are.

I love you, Stephanie
**********************************************************************
Keith - You are such a wonderful and kind soul. I hope that you have a wonderful 50th birthday. Don't let anyone tell you that you are old, because you are no old at all. You don't look a day over 49. Well, I guess you are a day over 49. HAHA Just kidding. Have a great birthday.
God Bless, Mandy Godfrey
***********************************************************************
Happy Birthday, Keith. You are an awesome man of God, and an awesome father to your family. Keep up the good work!!

Don Payette
***********************************************************************
To my Brother Keith: God put you in my life for a season and for a special reason. (Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven) I am so glad God works that way. You left a big footprint in my memory and they are all good. Thanks for the wisdom, friendship, laughs and memories.

Brenda Adair
***********************************************************************
Keith, Tom and I really miss you and Lisa and pray for all GOD'S best for you and your family. Please, lets make an effort to get together before Tom leaves in Dec. Happy, Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!!!!! Mary Beth
************************************************************************

Intro to Stories with Grandma


For those of you who don't know, the first 50 years of Keith's life has been an adventure. From birth, Keith has never been boring! We all love to hear Keith's Mom, Norma, my Grandma tell stories about all of her kids. She is an amazing mom, and grandmother and a great story-teller. I asked to jot down some of the stories about raising Keith that came to her mind. I ended up tying five pages worth that she wrote and I know that that barely scratched the surface of stories about her son, Keith.

Thanks for writing them down, Grandma and thanks for giving birth to my dad, Keith. We love you so much!

Jennifer

PS- I sure wish we could hear Grandpa Jack's version of these stories! Oh how we miss him!

Stories from Grandma IV- The Stories are Never ending...

These are most of the things that come to mind up to Keith’s teenage years. There are many, many, more stories to tell. In recent years when I start telling my version or hear Keith and Kent telling about some of the things they did, I am finding out that I did not always hear all of the stories… so our versions are different.

I cannot imagine my life without Keith and all of the joys he has brought our family! Those include your wonderful wife Lisa, six precious grandchildren and almost four beautiful great-grandchildren.

Life goes on and the stories and never ending!

Thank God for Keith!

Love, Mom

Stories from Grandma V- Keith at Thirteen... DRIVING!

When Keith was 13, Jack was in Southeast Asia. All year Keith had been begging for a motorcycle for his birthday. (Not a full sized one, but a smaller one.) He begged and I said, “NO, NO, NO!” Well, I think Jack felt guilty about being away from home and how it bothered Keith so much he thought we should let him have it. You had to be 13 to get a license for it. Bless our hearts! I was so nervous about it! He seemed so small to be riding that bike! SO, I followed him everywhere he went for three weeks until he could handle it pretty well. When we bought insurance for it Melvin Mourton helped me feel a little better about talking to Keith about how to roll off it if he got into a situation. He rode it for maybe a year until he wrecked it one day coming to our shop at the airport. He got into some loose gravel and couldn’t control it. He ended up with a broken arm!

At 17 years old, Keith got his first car and drove all the way to Fort Sumner, New Mexico in one day all by himself!

Stories from Grandma IV- And then he started school...

Then, Keith started to school! Mrs. Rainwater was his first grade teacher. She had 1st grade and half of the 2nd grade class. Keith was in her half of the 2nd grade class. This was Mrs. Jones 1st year to teach. Keith was constantly telling her how to do things. She told me that he was a really big help, even though she wanted to scream! She said sometimes she would start a sentence and Keith would finish it. Keith started to school in 1965 and I started working at the school the same year. Rose Varner and I were Cub Scout leaders for a while.

In 1968, Keith was in the 4th grade. We had moved into Grandpa Algie’s house in the spring. The school had a Halloween Carnival every year. I was working first in 1965 as the High School Secretary. Curtis Pharr was the Superintendent back then, Keith’s little girl friend was Jan Pharr was Curtis’ daughter. At Christmas that year Keith drew her name. We went shopping; he picked a beautiful dress which would not do because they had a $1 limit to spend for gifts. (We couldn’t afford to buy the dress anyway!) I had a hard time convincing Keith that we couldn’t buy the dress so he picked out a $.10 cent doll instead. We finally agreed on a more appropriate gift.

In October of 1968, I was teacher’s aide and one of my responsibilities was planning activities such as assembly programs and the Halloween Carnival. This included going to local stores to gather donations and prizes for the costume parade. Early in October, I asked Keith and Kent how they wanted to dress up. They said they weren’t interested. So, I bought a few things that Brenda wanted and that I thought they might need including costume makeup. They had gotten into the make-up and by Halloween all the black was gone. I was very busy helping with the carnival over all. Well, Keith was not going to dress up until the last minute. While I was rushing around Keith decided he wanted to be Aunt Jemima. The black make-up was all gone, SO I got soot out of the fireplace and mixed it with cold cream and covered his face! We stuffed pillows around him and put a read and white polka dotted skirt, fully gathered skirt, a white shirt and a red bandana on his head! We had to get to town early enough for the PTA Chili Supper and he went trick or treating with some other kids. By the time the costume contest came around, his make up was all smeared. He was quite a sight! He did not want to be in the costume parade, but after all that effort; I insisted that he inter it. He ended up winning a prize for his category!

I always had fun dressing them in costumes!

When Keith was 10 he went to Church Camp at Christ Forty acres in Hornobia, OK. While there he was saved and they were having a baptismal service in the Kaimichi River with the preacher’s holding the camp. Keith would not let any of them baptize him, but wanted Bro. Tom Moore to baptize him. Bro. Tom was our pastor at First Christian Mena and he drove over there to baptize him.

Stories from Grandma III- Keith at 5 Years Old

We came home from Dallas to visit often. I would try to have everything ready to leave when Jack came home from work on Friday evenings, but it would always be 10pm when we got to Hatfield. Keith had a little friend who lived down the street who was five years old. His grandparents live in Oklahoma. The little boys name was George David. One night the kids were asleep when we were traveling, Keith woke up and said,” Daddy, are we in Arkansas yet?” Jack said, “No, son we’re in Oklahoma.” Keith said, “Well, that’s George David’s Arkansas.” (Because that was where his grandparents lived and he loved to go to Oklahoma maybe as much as Keith loved to come to Arkansas.

One day when Kent was just a few weeks old, Keith was playing in the back yard. We had a large yard with a chain link fence. I tied the gate to keep from opening, but while I was taking care of Kent, Keith climbed over the gate. After about twenty minutes when I looked out, Keith was gone! Brenda and I started looking for him. She went up the street and I went down by George David’s house. There was no one home, so I looked in their back yard where he often played in a boat. We couldn’t find Keith anywhere! Finally, I went back to George David’s house and tried the front door, it opened and there was Keith lying on a pillow on the floor with a book beside him asleep. I picked him up and asked him why he had gone in their house when they were not home. He said, “Well, I was just waiting for George David to come home.” That was one of the worst scares he ever gave me!!

Keith loved to help Mother in the garden. One day when Keith was about five, Mother was cooking dinner and Keith came in with green onions and told her that he pulled them for dinner. Mother went outside and he had pulled up almost an entire row of green onions. Mother set them back out, but I don’t know if they lived.

We moved back to Mena from Dallas when Keith was five. There were no decent, affordable rent houses so we moved into Uncle Earl Varner’s house north of Hatfield. There was no indoor bathroom and Keith and Kent got a kick out of the “out house.” They had so much fun “roughing it” and playing with their dogs. That was in July and the next spring we were able to move into Mrs. Griffin’s rent house directly across the street from Hatfield Elementary School. She had a barn behind the house that was only used for storage. One day when Keith & Kent were playing in the barn, someone knocked on my door and said that the “barn was on fire!” I ran to the back yard and found the boys running toward the house. Keith was screaming hysterically! Soon after, the place was covered with trying to put out the fire, but the barn could not be saved. I stayed in the house trying to console Keith. Different people said, “I’ll bet he got in BIG trouble for that!” I think the scare was punishment enough and both the boys learned a good lesson! We paid Mrs. Griffin about $30.00, her estimate of what her things that were lost were worth and seemed to be glad that the barn was gone!

This is also where we lived when learned to ride a bicycle and had his first wreck!

Stories from Grandma II- Toddler & Preschool

When Keith was about two years old he talked so plain. My Mother described his speech as being “brickle” We belonged to North Dallas Christian Church. A lot of adults liked to get Keith talking to them, but he was especially fond of Lester Chambers, who was an elder in the Church. One Sunday we all got in the car and with a flash Keith was out of the car running back to the Church. Jack started after him and when he caught up with him Keith, said” I have to shake hands with Lester.” Jack had to find Lester before Keith would give up.



Lester’s wife, Sue taught Keith in Sunday school when he was almost three years old. She told me that they couldn’t find Keith’s little story leaflet a few minutes after she had handed them out. She asked Keith what happened to it and he said, “I ate it.” Sue had to tell me that over and over.



Our friends DeWayne & Barbara Wright had a little girl the same age as Keith. When they were one year old they were in the nursery and they bit each other. Keith had her teeth marks on his cheek and she had his on the corner of her mouth and check.



Barbara was another one of Keith’s teacher when he was three. We took him and Brenda over to Verna & Wayne’s on a Sunday not too long before Kent was born. On the way, Keith was sitting on the front seat with my sunglasses on. One of us asked him what his Sunday school lesson was about. He told us in detail... almost word for word the colorful way Barbara would have told the story of Adam and Eve. At the end he said, “God told Eve she would have babies and He told Adam he would have to work fort a living and “shaking his finger” he said that God told that old serpent he would have to crawl on his belly in the dust the rest of his days!” I wished so much that I had a movie camera to record it, but in my mind I can see and hear him so clearly it doesn’t seem possible that it was over 47 years ago.



Keith was a cowboy at heart and he rode endless miles on his stick horse around the house when he was three and four. With the record played blaring out “Onward Christian Soldiers” while he rode. Of course he kept up the Cowboy life through High School and beyond riding in the Junior Rodeo in Mena and another rodeo in New Mexico. Everytime he rode, I wished I had never encouraged him to be a cowboy when he was little, but thank God he was never seriously hurt!

Stories from Grandma I - Birth

Jonathan Keith Rose born October 14th, 1958, 6 weeks early, 5.5 lbs and as healthy as he could be. His left foot had been folded up sort of against the front of his leg apparently throughout the pregnancy so his ankle just sort of tapered down. The doctor told me he would probably have to wear corrective shoes and maybe sleep in braces. But he told me to massage his ankles every time I changed his diaper (with cloth diapers that was a lot of times) I did and by the time he started walking the foot was ok and never had a problem with it. Most of the times that little foot was massaged it was prayed over so all the credit goes to GOD!

Lillie Mae (his Aunt Lillie) came to stay with us when Keith was born. Her husband Melvin was in the army at that time stationed in Germany. Jack worked five days a week and was not able to take Lillie Mae to Ft Worth to get her passport she needed to get to Germany. I had my Arkansas Driver's License, but not my Texas license so while I fed Keith at all hours of the day and night I studied my driver' book and passed the test when it was time. So, we learned the trip to Ft. Worth well by the time Lillie Mae went to Germany in May.

I called Keith my “little baby man.”

Monday, October 13, 2008

A Message from your son, Jonathan



....Wow I can't believe that Keith is already 50! I remember when he first opened his eyes to this crazy world…. He was around 4 pounds, 2 ounces of silliness, about the size of jar of pickled okra (smelled about the same too)... I wasn't sure whether to keep him or throw him back! I'm sure glad I did because he's grown into quite the old man…. A champion fly fisher by the age of 7 and let me tell you…that boy can bail hay in his front yard faster than you can say…"darn I wish there was still a pond there"… anyways I'm really proud of Keith…there's not much I would trade him for ! happy 50 day, love–Jonathan Rose

A Message from your Son-in-Law, Daniel

Keith,
I hope you have a great 50th birthday! You have been a great father-in-law to me and more of like a dad than you think. Thank you for your love you show to me and the girls, you truly are a role-model that is worth following. I have to say there are many things about your life that I would like to comment on. I will share two, the first being that you are a great story-teller. You have so many stories that could come right out of a movie script. Anytime you start telling a story I am sure to be laughing before it is all said and done. You kind of have that Forest Gump thing going on as far as funny things that have happened in your life.
The second is that you are a man of a million second chances. I have seen how God has graced your life with this gift by not writing people off when they have blown it and by never giving up on people. Sometimes I think you are crazy, but sure enough you have been listening to the Father when people need someone they can turn to when they have really made a mess of life. What a timely and important gift for the kingdom! So many people can look back and see what a great and vital influence you have had on their lives.
Thank you for your love and leadership. May the decades to come be more blessed for you and may the Lord restore to you all that has been taken!
Love,
Daniel

Sophie sings Happy Birthday to her Pappy!



I couldn't decide on which one so I posted them both. :)

These girls sure love their PAPPY!





Brittany's Message to her Dad




Dear Dad, There are a million things running through my mind right now as I try to think of the best memories or thoughts to write down. How can words truly express the intensity and love that I truly feel in my heart towards you, the best dad a girl could ask for? Here are just a few of the many thoughts I have regarding you on this special day…

I would like to say thank you! Thank you for choosing me to be your daughter. Thank you for making me always feel loved and accepted no matter where I am in life or what decisions I’ve made. Thank you for showing me Christ and always directing me straight to His heart. Thank you for being an active example of a man after God’s own heart. You are my hero.

Thank you for making me laugh and teaching me to enjoy the life God has given me here on earth. These things I know: My faith is stronger because of your constant encouragement and direction that leads me to know Christ more. My heart is softer because of watching you love and serve others. My life is better because you are my dad. You will always be my hero.

I will always love you. I will always praise God because He chose you as my wonderful daddy. I hope you have a great 50th birthday. I am glad I get to celebrate it alongside you. As stated in Numbers, I pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you. I pray the Lord will make His face shine upon you and give you peace.

I love you daddy!

Love, Bert

Jaclyn's Message to her Dad





Dad,
My whole life I've heard from many different people how much I look like my dad and how much I act like my dad and how much I think like my dad. While I was contemplating what to write you for your birthday I started thinking of what that means to me.

As far as looks go, you're a pretty handsome man so I'm good with looking like you, at least a female version of you. You aren't the tallest dad or the strongest physically, though I know working on the farm has made you pretty buff, but you are the strongest man I know. You handle with grace amazing pressures that are laid on your shoulders every day. You make mistakes sometimes but you aren't too proud to admit and you take those mistakes and learn from it and then turn it into a lesson for whichever one of your kids needs it most. You manage this family with mercy and love; you have a wife that adores you and children that thank God for you everyday. How rare a man like that in today's society? You have taught your son how to be a man and your daughters what to look for in a man. Our family has had its ups and downs but through everything you remain the heart and center and provide the strength and love that we need to make it through. You discipline use when we are wrong, praise us when we are right, pray for us when we stray away, and love us through it all.

Not only do you handle your family with amazing strength but you manage a business with wisdom and grace. I’ve met many intelligent men, my Advanced Accounting teachers, famous theologians with many degrees, and doctors with more letters after their names than well, most people have in their names, but you are the smartest man I’ve ever met. The lives of hundreds of people are affected daily with the decisions you make. What is so neat to me is that I know how seriously you take that responsibility. I know how hard you agonize and pray over seemingly small decisions. You lead with a somber dignity that I respect so much. A lot of people know you, but few really get to see this side of you. I’ve learned so much that I plan on taking into my professional life from watching the way you lead.

I also love watching the way you pastor Bethel Baptist Church. It’s not the biggest or the fanciest but it has some of the greatest people. You saw the potential from the very beginning. You are so full of ideas, such a dreamer, and you’ve taken your newest endeavor and ‘ran with it’. It’s been neat for me to watch the Church grow so much, how it went from very few young couples and children to filling half the pews with little kids in such a short time. The people there love you and it shows every Sunday.

You are easily the most influential person in my life. I love discussing business and life with you. I do not love discussing politics with you because you always play the devil’s advocate just because you like to debate! It drives me nutty but it makes me think, dig deeper and come up with solid reasoning behind why I believe what I believe. I’m so thankful you are my dad. The last few months of my life have easily been the hardest in my 25 years and what would I have done without my daddy’s never ending support? Even think we don’t agree 100% your opinions always matter and they always make the think. I can’t imagine a better Pappy for Ike and I know he will adore you as much as Sophie and Gracie do. He’ll know what a terrific man he has in his life and how you will be there for him always, just like his mommy does.

So, in the future when people tell me I look like you, or act like you, or think like you, I’ll smile and nod like I have my whole life. I’ll tell them thank you and then think to myself what a compliment they have just given to me. I’ll thank God for the example He has given to me in you and ask Him to make those comments really true someday.

I love you dad and I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Jaclyn

Jennifer's Favorite "Dad" Memories



The other night I started jotting down some of my favorite memories of our times together, Dad. The happy memories kept coming... here are a few! (It basically turned into a list of things I love & appreciate about you...)

*When I threw your Gold Cross pen out the window of the moving car
*For encouraging mom to stay at home with us girls
*For continuing to give Jac & I baths at night no matter how many times we pooped in the tub!
* For dealing with our hair, tender heads and my insistence on wearing only purple!
*When my hamster died, you used the book, "Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" to teach me about dying.
*For providing a way for mom to live here when we were young.
*For the music nights... I guess I just remember you putting in cd's and we would all dance around and listen to the music as kids
*For working so hard to provide for us all...
*For helping me make an AWESOME solar system model for school
*For letting me stay in Ft. Smith during the court case so I could see you win. Praise God!
*For instilling in me a love for politics. I remember when we watched the election coverage when George H Bush ran against Bill Clinton... and beyond.
*For teaching me to love people.
*For the fun ski trips... Sipadookie and Beyond!
*For encouraging me to go to Nicaragua for my first mission trip and for making me work to earn money for it. Remember I called about 300 men from Mena regarding Promise Keepers?
*For the Dauphen Island Trips
*For loving me when I made huge mistakes!
*For being such a great BOB the TOMATO!
*For being a dad that all my friend's loved. I had to share you with lots...but I didn't mind!
*For letting me sleep with you and mom when I was scared (even in High School...)
*For the old school DABC youth days... you, Victor, Brad McClenney, Jim Classen, ect, etc... "Don't be a turkey. Trust & Obey!", Josh McDowell, Acquire the Fire, etc etc.
*For giving me my first Rich Mullins CD.
*For teaching me how to drive...on the old roads behind the airport... at your own risk! I still ride the shoulder because of those lessons.
*For the "homely" hope chest and all the C.S. Lewis books for Christmas! :)
*For the look on your face when I walked into Dixie Cafe in Fayetteville with my blue Roxy wig. You were not impressed!
*For letting mom throw us such fun birthday parties... and for getting involved, such as the hayride where you planted people to scare us or the limo ride and dinner or the amazing party at Raspberry Manor when I was eighteen and you broke the thermometer thing.
*For the nights we all stayed home and watched old movies like "The Egg & I" and ate Chinese food.
*For the great and very practical gift of luggage when I graduated. Seriously, I love that luggage and it has been all over the world.
*For being such a cell phone FANATIC! Remember the huge phone you had years ago?
*For helping me pick out, inspect and buy my first car and for going to the bank with me.
*For dropping me off at Teen Mania and making me stay, hysterical sobbing and all... I am so glad that I stuck that one out!
*For knowing that I could trust your judgement with Daniel. I found so much peace and confirmation in knowing that you and the rest of the family were for us!
*For making Dan & I sign the Covenant Marriage Certificate and for telling Dan that you'd kill him if we ever divorced. :) Not gonna happen!
*For helping me plan the wedding. For buying me that amazing dress and chairs and food and decorations and on and on!
*For the week before the wedding when you could not stop crying and when you told me that we needed to basically spend as much time together as a family the week before the wedding as possible.
*For walking me down the aisle. I couldn't have gone with out you, for praying at the wedding, for giving me away to such an amazing man.
*For calling me the next morning and telling me how wonderful the wedding had been and how God had blessed us. That meant a lot to me and Dan.
*For blessing us with the things that we can't buy for ourselves and for our kids.
*For buying me the Pregnant Mom Willow Tree well before I got pregnant and for the Grand baby Hope Chest.
*For selling cows so that Sophie could have baby furniture. :)
*For loving my girls SO much!
*For being Sophie's biggest fan!
*For planning and hosting such a fun baby shower and 26th Birthday party for me. Thank you!
*For being such a pillar of support to Daniel and I when Grace was in the hospital. For taking care of our needs, for being there, for spending the morning hours at Grace's side. For all the sweet pictures you took of her and sent to us.
*For being 100% for TRUTH!
*For loving the unlovable and giving people so many second chances.
*For being so generous!
*For teaching me about grace.
*For always offering an open door at our home to those in need.
*For living with SO MANY GIRLS!
*For leading our family during the good times and bad with such humble strength and wisdom.
*For constantly reading and searching out wisdom in all areas of life.
*For teaching us to pray as we drove to school in the mornings.
*For being so faithful to His Church even when it is personally painful.
*For allowing God to do such a work in your life and in the life of those in your family. I know it hasn't been easy, but you have continued to press through and have allowed God to break you and rebuild you, to prune you, to use you in extraordinary ways. I know my life would not have been the same if you had not sold out your life to Him when you did and for that I am eternally grateful.

This just scratched the surface. I love you so much, Dad and I am so proud to be your daughter. May God truly bless you and keep you, may He continue the work that He has started in you. He who began it is faithful. May you continue to grow to look more and more like Jesus. May you know how loved you are and may you walk in peace and joy all the days of your life. You are a great Dad, Father-in-law and Pappy to me and my family! I am proud to be your first born. :)
Jennifer






To my loving husband on his 50th Birthday!


May today bring you much joy and peace as you celebrate your birthday. Words cannot express how much I love and appreciate you. You are my best friend, and a fantastic husband, father, and grand-pappy.

You are loved and admired by so many people and your love for God shines so bright in your life.

Thanks for all your love, hardwork, and prayer that you havr put into this family. I admire your passion for life and the lost world.

Let's keep running through this life together.
Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be!

Your loving wife,
Lisa

Keith's Wordle

To Daddy from Sarah Jo

to: Daddy



I love you! I hope you have a great 50th Birthday. But, most of all, I am glad your my dad!

love,

Sarah

JO

What is a Father?

He is a vessel of worship unto God

He is wisdom and understanding

He is power under control

He is compassion for the weak

He is an example of God's love.



But, most of all he is a son of a King, and can do all things when he drws his strength from God.

A Birthday Message from Nera


Dear Dad!
What can I say to the man that gave me a chance to a better life and better yet that truly showed me and guided me into loving God deeper? Well, for starters “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”. I don’t know that words could ever do justice. I will always be grateful to you for following God’s leading and providing a home and a life for me here in the United States better than I could have ever imagined or asked for. Doesn’t time fly right by us? It was ten years ago you took me into your home and made me part of your family forever. I am so glad that I have had the privilege of knowing you and being a part of your life. You’re a pretty special guy, you know. Your love for God reflects in your everyday life at home and also in your business. I have a lot of respect for you in that. It takes a very special man to be all that you have become; a husband, a father, a minister, a businessman, a farmer and so much more. I pray God blesses you in a special way in your birthday and all the days to come. I know that He will actually. I love you and always will. You will always hold a very special place in my heart that no one else can replace.
Happy Birthday!
I hope your day is filled with joy, laughter, the company of loved people, and the understanding of all the blessings God has bestowed upon you!
I love you,
Nera

Pictures!

Dad- Here are some pictures of you and those you love. They aren't in the best order. Hopefully I can clean this up before too long.