"These Precious Few Hours..."

I wanted to share the following post, which my dad had written:


"I started this poem several weeks ago, and this morning thought I better finish it. I sent it to the printer just moments before Richard crossed over into glory at 12:40 PM. Today is Wednesday, December 24, 2008.

"It was during the night Monday that I dreamed (a very real dream that woke me up) an angel knocked at the side door, poked her head in and called out "Hello?" Then she came in and began to busy herself with preparations of some sort. Said her name was "JB." I thought at the time that Richard's time was drawing near, and this morning thought to myself that he had less than 24 hours on this side of the river.

In these precious few hours…
We’ve heard the laughter and watched the tears
Of love from a life lived full of years
Echo off the walls and across the lawn
of the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
We’ve had friends and family come in the door
With smiles and food and much much more
To honor the love that came from the halls
of the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
We’ve watched a warrior worn with pain
Stay bravely true and with no shame
Give a wink, a smile, his love to all
In the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
We’ve kept short nights with little sleep
With miles to go and shifts to keep
While lives fly by on the road out front
Of the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
We’ve realized those lives would be
Far better off if they could see
more loving truth like is displayed
In the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
One may think time stilled
While others say they’ve years to kill
But eternity stretches on out the door
Of the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm"

© 2008 S. Allen Patterson

Portraits

We had our portraits done at Sears this weekend. Prints should be in soon, but we have the copyright CD. We are very excited about how they turned out!!!

Christmas Preparations

Our little Christmas tree.
The little Nativity sits beneath the tree.

Stockings all in a row: mine, Jon's, & Samson's.

All are yet to have their names put on them.

Iowa Visit and Thanksgiving

I apologize for being a bit behind on my blog posts! It has been a crazy last month or so.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, I made a trip to see my Grandpa Ferguson, whom for the last three and a half years has been battling bone cancer. Since our family fishing trip to Wisconsin in October, Grandpa has had a turn for the worst. Hospice is in the home and have been such a wonderful blessing to Grandpa and the family. My parents are staying with them now and the rest of the family is back and forth, mostly staying there as well, to help with round-the-clock care for Grandpa and support for Gram.

It was a very special weekend that I spent in Iowa. Grandpa had been wanting to see me again, but when I got there he didn't recignize me at first. Between the pain medicine and the cancer, we aren't always sure why he struggles so much mentally. That weekend he spent mostly in bed, various neighbors and relatives stopping by to give their regards, and someone from our family close by his side at all times. It was a sad moment when I had to finally leave on Sunday to head back here to PA. He gave me a kiss and a hug and said a slow, tearful goodbye. I struggled with tears as well, for I don't know but that was the last I will see of my Grandpa. He has had good days and bad days again since that visit. We still wait for the phone call that tells us he has gone on to Heaven, but are still going to enjoy having him with us for the time being.

For Thanksgiving we spent it with our friends, the Fatula's, in Ellwood City, PA. It was a wonderful holiday spent and truly felt like family among them. At the top is a picture taken at Thanksgiving dinner.