Roseland

Roseland

Music

Monday, November 28, 2011

Tis The Season


"The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful.
We ring the bells when princes are born, or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away.
Nations have their red-letter days, their carnivals and festivals, but once in the year and only once, the whole world stands still to celebrate the advent of a life. Only Jesus of Nazareth claims this world-wide, undying remembrance.
You cannot cut Christmas out of the Calendar, nor out of the heart of the world."
~Anonymous


Thursday, November 03, 2011

Saying goodbye to Dad (& hey to Korey)

















Kenneth Louis McFarland lived from September 13th, 1920, to October 28th, 2011.
He came into my life when I met Keith, his oldest son, in 1967.
He was a dear man who loved his family & looked forward to every visit we made, & every trip he took to visit us.
When the grandkids came along, Keith & I took second place & we didn't mind a bit:) The grandchildren were the apple of his eye.
Cameron spent a number of summers camping with Grandpa & Grandma, & Cameron loved that together time:) Seth & Skye spent special time with them as well:)

Dad belonged to the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church while Mom belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Now & then I'd go with him to the CMA on a Sunday night, a sweet time together.
He always let me drive him & mom around town, especially his new cars, which was a treat since Keith has never let that happen too often!

He loved the south. If he hadn't loved his western Pa. so dearly, he might have moved to NC, but love of home was too strong. He advised Keith to "go south" if he ever got the chance. And Keith did:)

In the past 3 years, due to declining health, he & Mom moved to The Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh, Pa. Mom watched over him like a mother hen, so he was well cared for. His memory slowly faded, but he knew us every time we visited. We saw him last this summer, over July Fourth.

Dad loved a joke & told many one-liners. He loved roses, red roses. He loved the color red & had a number of red cars:) He loved peanut butter. He loved camping:) He loved trains--he worked as an Engineer on the Penn Central Railroad until he retired.
Most of all he loved being with family. We spent a week at Holden Beach years ago, then another week at Mohican State Park in Ohio more recently. He soaked up those times:)
We're planning another gathering out West in the next year or so, the NC McFarlands, the Wisconsin McFarlands, & the PA Carsons--he will be with us in spirit:)

As we said goodbye to Dad/Grandpa, we welcomed the first great grandchild, Korey Calvin McFarland, Kendall & Kristen's son, born in July, into the clan:) Great grandma had not met him, nor had the NC Mc's.
As you can see, he's a sweetheart:)

So, a great grandpa slips to Heaven, & a great grandson slips to Earth.
God is good, always:)