What a morning... the day to say Good bye to my beloved father in law John. It was sooooooo icy! We were so worried about people traveling from afar. We were preparing ourselves for this day... and it was here. One wonderful thing that happens when a loved one goes home to the Lord, is that the family gathers together. Vicki's (my mother in law) sister and her family were able to come from Colorado. Jill and Joseph stayed at Vicki's house, Jordan at Steve's, and we got the girls, Amanda and Alyssa, to stay at our home, as well as my parents. It is soooo wonderful to be surrounded by those you love!
Jere, Amanda, Alyssa and I squeezed into my parents car as ours was blocked in.... and we headed to Church. As we got closer to Church we noticed the flags of the color guard. We knew they would be there... but we didn't know so many (30 someone said?). It was absolutely amazing! John was very proud of his time that he served in the military. And these beautiful soldiers were lining the way for us. That caused me to tear up immediately. Jere let us out at the door, and a gentleman from the color guard opened the door for us. I told him, "Thank you so much for being here today. It really means so much." When we had talked to them on the phone. We were worried about the weather and how cold it would be... it was actually a bit warmer... hence all the ice, and we were assured that they would dress warm and take turns warming up. They were truly an "Honor Guard." If only John could've seen it... he would've been so very honored.
We got settled in at Church and I headed to the sound booth as I had a video that I had done a collage of pictures and also a segment of John's "Magic Pond". The "Magic Pond" was a soundless old 8mm video that he had made with his fishing buddy Chico. They had made it so that it went backwards, and the fish were jumping into their hands, into their hats, under their legs, etc... it was hilarious... and it was a perfect memory of him. I put the video in... it wouldn't load. Luckily for me, Pastor Dallas was standing there, as I started to panic... "It worked at home, I've done all these MOPS videos.... they all worked... I don't understand...." so we tried a different DVD player... and it worked. What a sigh of relief.
There were SOOOOO many people who came through, many who couldn't stay. The visitation went from 10 -12, with the funeral at 12. The Church was absolutely packed with only standing room, and they had overflow set up in the gymnasium. I keep wondering... if his funeral would be at a "normal" time of year, vs. Christmas time.... how many would've been there.... it was overwhelming and wonderful how all of these people were just pouring out their love to our family.
As the family walked in... it was incredible... Bryan was playing on the piano "He Lives!" it was so fitting, John would've loved it. We sat down. There were many representing the VFW on the one side of the auditorium... tons of wrestlers that were all very proud to have had John as their coach. I even met his first State Champion that I have heard about all these years. He was so proud of all of them. There were his fellow Gideons. One of my favorite memories of John was when he spoke for the Gideons at our Church last year, he actually got all choked up and was so angry with himself for doing so.... but you could TOTALLY see his passion for getting a Bible into the hands of those who do not know our Lord, so that they too may learn of his salvation, and come to know Christ. It was BEAUTIFUL! John touched so many lives for the Lord. It was such a blessing.
Then came a time for sharing. There was a song that was written when John retired from 17 years of coaching, "Big John"... it was a stitch... Noel Bailey read it.... It was a beautiful tribute to John. The last verse got us all though...
"Big John - Aitkin will never see another like this guy,
We don't have to say farewell or even good-bye
When you see him at the matches as a wrestling fan,
All will know there sits a big, big man - Big John"
And that was followed up with a lady who talked about how she thought she was married to her cousin, but then they weren't cousins... and John would tease her about that.... HUH?!! Talk about how to ruin a moment!!
The memories that people shared about John were precious. My daughter ended them all with the kicker.... "I went fishing with my Grandpa, and I got the biggest fish!" John was trying to say that his was pretty darn close to hers.... I could hear him mumbling something about it.... but he didn't do it in front of her.... competitive to the end... even with his own Granddaughter. I'm so glad that his last day was spent fishing with Jere and Kaila... he was so proud of how well she could reel them in, he spent REAL quality time with his wife cuddling and holding hands on the couch with NEVER happens, read through e-mails together..... one of which read... "be sure if you love someone to tell them before it's too late." So he told her he loved her and gave her a kiss. She went to bed as she had a cold... he went to bed later.... and woke up in the arms of the Lord. Can you imagine anything more beautiful?
Jere, Amanda, Alyssa and I squeezed into my parents car as ours was blocked in.... and we headed to Church. As we got closer to Church we noticed the flags of the color guard. We knew they would be there... but we didn't know so many (30 someone said?). It was absolutely amazing! John was very proud of his time that he served in the military. And these beautiful soldiers were lining the way for us. That caused me to tear up immediately. Jere let us out at the door, and a gentleman from the color guard opened the door for us. I told him, "Thank you so much for being here today. It really means so much." When we had talked to them on the phone. We were worried about the weather and how cold it would be... it was actually a bit warmer... hence all the ice, and we were assured that they would dress warm and take turns warming up. They were truly an "Honor Guard." If only John could've seen it... he would've been so very honored.
We got settled in at Church and I headed to the sound booth as I had a video that I had done a collage of pictures and also a segment of John's "Magic Pond". The "Magic Pond" was a soundless old 8mm video that he had made with his fishing buddy Chico. They had made it so that it went backwards, and the fish were jumping into their hands, into their hats, under their legs, etc... it was hilarious... and it was a perfect memory of him. I put the video in... it wouldn't load. Luckily for me, Pastor Dallas was standing there, as I started to panic... "It worked at home, I've done all these MOPS videos.... they all worked... I don't understand...." so we tried a different DVD player... and it worked. What a sigh of relief.
There were SOOOOO many people who came through, many who couldn't stay. The visitation went from 10 -12, with the funeral at 12. The Church was absolutely packed with only standing room, and they had overflow set up in the gymnasium. I keep wondering... if his funeral would be at a "normal" time of year, vs. Christmas time.... how many would've been there.... it was overwhelming and wonderful how all of these people were just pouring out their love to our family.
As the family walked in... it was incredible... Bryan was playing on the piano "He Lives!" it was so fitting, John would've loved it. We sat down. There were many representing the VFW on the one side of the auditorium... tons of wrestlers that were all very proud to have had John as their coach. I even met his first State Champion that I have heard about all these years. He was so proud of all of them. There were his fellow Gideons. One of my favorite memories of John was when he spoke for the Gideons at our Church last year, he actually got all choked up and was so angry with himself for doing so.... but you could TOTALLY see his passion for getting a Bible into the hands of those who do not know our Lord, so that they too may learn of his salvation, and come to know Christ. It was BEAUTIFUL! John touched so many lives for the Lord. It was such a blessing.
Then came a time for sharing. There was a song that was written when John retired from 17 years of coaching, "Big John"... it was a stitch... Noel Bailey read it.... It was a beautiful tribute to John. The last verse got us all though...
"Big John - Aitkin will never see another like this guy,
We don't have to say farewell or even good-bye
When you see him at the matches as a wrestling fan,
All will know there sits a big, big man - Big John"
And that was followed up with a lady who talked about how she thought she was married to her cousin, but then they weren't cousins... and John would tease her about that.... HUH?!! Talk about how to ruin a moment!!
The memories that people shared about John were precious. My daughter ended them all with the kicker.... "I went fishing with my Grandpa, and I got the biggest fish!" John was trying to say that his was pretty darn close to hers.... I could hear him mumbling something about it.... but he didn't do it in front of her.... competitive to the end... even with his own Granddaughter. I'm so glad that his last day was spent fishing with Jere and Kaila... he was so proud of how well she could reel them in, he spent REAL quality time with his wife cuddling and holding hands on the couch with NEVER happens, read through e-mails together..... one of which read... "be sure if you love someone to tell them before it's too late." So he told her he loved her and gave her a kiss. She went to bed as she had a cold... he went to bed later.... and woke up in the arms of the Lord. Can you imagine anything more beautiful?
1 comment:
I have never wrote on a blog before...what fun...truly the honor guard proved majestic in the cold air holding the flags in solemn tribute!... of course, I teared up at first site also. Thank you so much for recalling the memories, so I could share the days events with Kelly! Danielle & I completely felt the same about the "cousin" moment! Love you girl- st
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