Dad coming Home

He was a strong man for sure, that Dad of mine

He worked all of the time

He played when he could

I remember the playing and the laughter

When he was young he took care of me and my Mom

He helped his parents and family and my Mom’s family too.

He was a fixer of houses of cars and of lives

He would fix your mistakes for you and teach you how to do it right

his family was large and my Mother’s was small but they took her as their own

I never had sisters or a brother but my cousins were them

My Dad was a smart man and studied all of the time.

He was the one to go to for counseling for anything you didn't
know.

Now his body is breaking. So strong and so firm

I watch from behind him see the muscles are gone.

The mind is still steady and wise and strong.

The kidneys are failing; the treatment has done all it could.

The pain that he is feeling is much more than this strong man can hold.

He takes charge of the situation just like he always has

He’s made his decision, spoke to the Good Lord above

He would stop the treatment and prepare to go home.

They are all waiting for him the party is on…

He wants to go… stay in the hospice but not here at home

He’s afraid I will always remember the bad.

We are all gathered here around him while he goes up and comes back

Baby Sis Sherry and Nieces he loves. Grandsons he is proud of are all by his side.

With love and encouragement from those, Jesus speaks to him, speaks to his soul

Jesus lets him drive that big truck just one more time, but only in his mind.

He keeps all of the drawings Great Grandson Tyler has made with such love.

He laughs at his shenanigans, so familiar to him from many years ago when he was a lad.

He took Jesus hand for that final walk home, I was not with him but he wasn’t alone.

He told me not to cry for him, he was going to be fine,  I won’t then but I miss you so Dad.

Jody Hall-Bender

2010

Begining a new life

Today I am starting my business. 33 years of Nursing is quite enough. I've clocked in and out to make someone else look good and make them money.  Today I'm excited!... I have a plethora of experience and will use that to help others and free myself to work at home or in a Mountain Lodge in summer or at the beach in winter.  Freedom is on the way. I will succeed.  YES!

Post father and post Christmas without father

1/6/2011
A new year and a new start and a new way of seeing things. 
Dad passed away October 20, 2010. That's 10/20 2010.  It must mean something in numerology.  He was a brave and strong man all my life. He was the problem solver in our family. No problem too small or too large for him to tackle. When his kidney stopped in February of 2009, he went on dialysis to try it for a month, encouraged by his Nephrologist who was amazed at how alert and with it he was when his labwork showed that he should be 'out of it'.  
Well that's my Dad, very strong of body and mind and will.


So after 18 month of Dialysis and doing well and being an example for the other patients and amazing his nurses and Doctors, the body just couldn't take it any more and he became weaker and more frail and in pain. He made the decision to solve one last problem..... stop dialysis and die. It was his choice and now no one tried to talk him out of it. His grandsons (my sons) and I did everything he wanted us to do and I made all of the arrangements for his burial just like he wanted it. I did it before he passed so he could see that I was right on top of things like him. It only took him 6 days to pass. He would wake up and look around and say, Oh, I'm still here! When am I going to go? Well he went and he waited for his baby sister Sherry to get here to Colorado from Illinois. His nieces brought her and we visited and he slept and would wake and we would talk to him and he would answer. He would make sure that I was crossing each T and dotting each i....  He went beautifully and peacefully thanks to The Denver Hospice people. Angels every one! It's where he wanted to be. Now he is where he wanted to be with his Savior and all of the family. I miss him, he was my counselor among many things. I appreciate my family. Carol my cousin, his niece stayed with me the whole time.  It was hard on me to have him cremated but I felt better when he was buried beside my Mom. I'm grateful for Keith Hilton who came out to help with him about 2 weeks before the end. Dad was very weak an Keith was a life saver for me. I appreciate his kindness and attention to me and my Dad. 


To a new year, leaving the past behind an setting new goals. We all march toward that final goal don't we! 
'Night Dad!"