........AS I SAT IN DADDY'S CHAIR IN THE GARDEN YESTERDAY, I WATCHED AND FELT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT HE LOVED SO MUCH. THE SKIES WERE CLEAR BLUE WITH WISPY WHITE CLOUDS.. THE GEESE WERE CALLING. THE WATER WAS RIPPLING AND HIS FLOWERS WERE BRILLIANT IN COLOR ALL AROUND ME. THE SUN FELT INTENSELY WARM ON MY BODY AND THE WILLOW TREE WAS GENTLY WAVING IN THE EVER SO SLIGHT BREEZE. THIS TREE THAT HE HAD PLANTED FROM A TWIG IN A MUSKRAT HOLE 12 YEARS AGO, IS NOW SO TALL AND FULL AND BEAUTIFUL. I REMEMBERED THE STORY THAT HAD INSPIRED ME FOR THE LAST DECADE OF MY LIFE....(THE GARDEN)
THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO ADMIRED HER NEIGHBORS BEAUTIFUL GARDEN. NOW AND THEN THE NEIGHBOR WOULD GIVE HER CUTTINGS, OR SEEDS, OR STARTS OF SOME OF SOME OF THE FLOWERS. YEARS LATER THE NEIGHBOR STOPPED TO SEE HER GARDEN AND TO HIS DISMAY - SHE HAD NONE! HE SAID, "BUT WHERE IS THE GARDEN - ALL THAT I GAVE YOU?" SHE SAID, "I NEVER FELT ANYTHING WOULD GROW FOR ME - SO I NEVER PLANTED WHAT YOU GAVE ME!"
THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT KARL BRUEGGEMAN. I AM A NEWCOMER IN THIS FAMILY - BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HE MADE THE MOST OF THE SEEDS GOD GAVE HIM. HE KNEW HOW TO GATHER THE SEEDS GOD GAVE HIM, AND PROTECT THEM. HOW TO PLANT THE SEEDS AND HOW TO CULTIVATE THEM. HOW TO WEED HIS GARDEN, TO WATER HIS GARDEN, AND TO LOVE AND NURTURE THE PLANTS IN IT.
THIS WAS NOT JUST THE GARDEN OF FLOWERS - BUT ALSO THE GARDEN OF HIS LIFE. HE MADE BEAUTY OUT OF NOTHING. HE CREATED LOVE WHEREVER HE WENT. HE WAS A CHARMER - HE LOVED PEOPLE AND SINCERELY CARED ABOUT THEM. HE LOVED NATURE, THE LAND, THE BIRDS, AND THE FLOWERS.
HE WAS A MAN OF STRONG FAITH. HE PRAYED AND TRUSTED GOD TO SOLVE HIS PROBLEMS AND TO LEAD HIS LIFE. HE LOVED HIS CHILDREN - EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM. HE WAS PROUD OF THEM AND THE PRESENCE OF EACH ONE MADE HIS FACE LIGHT UP, HIS LIPS PUCKER IN A KISS, HIS ARMS OPEN UP FOR A BIG HUG - AND HIS WORDS SING OF PRAISES OF HIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.
DADDY MADE THE MOST OF WHAT GOD GAVE HIM. ONE TIME HE RE-TILED HIS BATHROOM WALLS WITH PATCHWORK TILE - LEFT OVERS OF ALL COLORS AND SHAPES LIKE A PATCHWORK QUILT. HE MADE BIRTHDAY CAKES WITH CANDY OR WHATEVER WAS AVAILABLE THROWN IN IT TO DELIGHT THE KIDS. HE CARRIED EACH STONE (ONE BY ONE) TO BUILD HIS GARDEN AROUND HIS APARTMENT HOUSE.
DADDY WAS A BIG MAN 6 foot 1 inch - AN INTIMIDATING STATURE - WHICH GAVE HIM STRENGTH AND POWER AND THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH HIS HANDS AND HIS BODY. THE APPEARANCE OF HIM CALLED FOR RESPECT AND HE CARRIED HIMSELF WITH DIGNITY.
BUT INSIDE DADDY WAS A PLAYFUL, SOFT, LOVING , KIND, THOUGHTFUL, CARING, CREATIVE MAN - LOVING TO GIGGLE AND PLAY WITH HIS MENAGERIE AROUND HIM....HIS ELEPHANT COLLECTION, HIS TALKING PARROT, AND HIS TALKING DUCK THAT EARL GOT FOR HIM. HE HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THAT ONE! All helped to bring a smile and a giggle. IT HELPED TO BRING THE SOUNDS OF HIS CHILDREN AROUND HIM.
AT AGE 72 HE MARRIED VENA. "THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME ! MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE!" SHE WAS THE HAPPINESS, THE LOVE, THE CENTER OF THE AUTUMN OF HIS LIFE, HIS BEST FRIEND, COMPANION, CARETAKER, LOVER, AND SPIRITUAL PARTNER.
DADDY WAS FUN, LOVING, WITTY, PRAYERFUL, THANKFUL. HE LEFT A LEGACY - THE BEST EVER.....THE LOVE, THE CARING, THE HUMOR, AND WITTINESS IN EACH ONE OF HIS FAMILY. THIS PART OF DADDY EACH ONE OF YOU CARRY WITHIN YOU!
HE DIED AS HE LIVED IN HONESTY AND ACCEPTANCE. HE WAS SURROUNDED BY HIS LOVED ONES, HIS ANGELS, AND MADE THE MOST OUT OF WHAT GOD GAVE HIM. EACH DAY ..EACH MOMENT...A PRECIOUS GEM...WITH THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS GIFTS.
TO US HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS LIVING, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE BODY IS THE CLOTHING THAT IS LAID ASIDE AND HIS SPIRIT CONTINUES TO LIVE......AND GIGGLE...AND LOVE...AND CARE. HIS RICH GARDEN HE CULTIVATED IN THIS EARTHLY LIFE - HE HAS TAKEN WITH HIM IN HIS HEAVENLY STATE.
HE WAS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE, BUT TO US HE IS ALWAYS "DADDY". KISSING CHARLOTTE'S SHOULDER MANY TIMES AS SHE LIFTED HIM OUT OF BED. LAYING HIS ARM OUT FOR EARL TO LAY HIS UPON WHEN HE SLEPT WITH HIM. (THE LITTLE THINGS WE WELL REMEMBER) EARL WAKING UP TO FIND SOMETHING STRANGE IN HIS HAND - DADDY'S HEARING AID.... WHEN ANITA TOLD HIM HE COULD TAKE HIS PILLS WHEN HE GOT UP TOGO TO THE BATHROOM, AND HE SAID "I DON'T WANT NO BATHROOM PILLS (IN THAT VERY FIRM VOICE!)....CHARLOTTE, "VISUALLY" TAKING HIM TO THE GARDEN TO WALK AMONG THE FLOWERS THAT WERE SO BEAUTIFUL AND AWAY FROM HIS BED OF PAIN..... RUTH SITTING AT HIS BED SIDE READING THE BIBLE FOR HIM WHILE THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS RESTED.... HIS NOSE CRUNCHING UP IN ACKNOWLEDGING PATTY'S PRESENCE WHEN SHE ARRIVED AND THE WINK HE GAVE HER IN HIS FINAL HOURS.
HE CONTINUES TO LIVE AND MOVE ABUT HIS HEAVENLY FATHER'S BUSINESS IN HEAVEN. LOVE IS ETERNAL AND WE LOVE YOU DADDY. MAY THE ANGELS CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND PROTECT YOU ALONG YOUR WAY.
MAY THE LIGHT OF GOD SURROUND YOU, DADDY!
MAY THE LOVE OF GOD EN-FOLD YOU, DADDY! WHEREVER YOU GO DADDY....GOD IS...AND ALL IS WELL!