tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12370444.post1905731457297513446..comments2023-07-23T06:43:00.157-07:00Comments on In His Grip: After 34 years...(long, heartfelt post alert!)the beach bumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03831431306322474984noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12370444.post-26953675066824408032008-12-18T19:53:00.000-08:002008-12-18T19:53:00.000-08:00What a wonderful memorial to a fantastic father! ...What a wonderful memorial to a fantastic father! From your heart to God's ears...<BR/>Merry Christmas Mike Madaris...merry Christmas to Ann and the kids! <BR/><BR/>We love ya<BR/><BR/>Joy, Steve & Debi Ogleherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07041695982343630696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12370444.post-44728822822217214532008-12-16T16:25:00.000-08:002008-12-16T16:25:00.000-08:00Mike, I still have my dad, and I, too cherish ever...Mike, I still have my dad, and I, too cherish every moment with him. I was very close with my grandfather and he died right after I gradduated from high school. I remember him griping about people driving too slowly, his love for all things Auburn (except BL), and his very high expectations for people. He was a Navy man in every sense of the word. He bought a small business when he was out of college and made it into a good enough business where he was able to leave my sister and I enough money to go to college. He was a strong man of God and a true believer in Sunday School. I have started to think about him lately more often. My niece, Emma, looks so much like him-even with the wy the top of his ear folded just a tiny bit. Ella, the other one, sticks her tongue out when she is concentrating on something and he used to do that all the time. It's funny, the things we treasure and remember. Thank goodness for the strong men who left a lasting memory for us.<BR/>ChristyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12370444.post-43139938471167562372008-12-15T07:09:00.000-08:002008-12-15T07:09:00.000-08:00Your post made me cry. I don't know the sort o...Your post made me cry. I don't know the sort of pain you & Steph deal with daily. But I do know who does. Our Lord identifies with every possible emotion & hurt we have. I told Steph the other day that, in one of my recent chats with the Almighty, I wondered aloud how the greatest moment on Earth (Christ's arrival)could trigger joy & deep sadness at the same time. We celebrate that He came with joy, but our hearts ache to be at home (our true home) with Him & those gone ahead of us, too. It's a big mish mash of feelings. I will continue to lift you up during this difficult time. <BR/>Much love,<BR/>KristenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12370444.post-20980981335653802462008-12-15T06:03:00.000-08:002008-12-15T06:03:00.000-08:00Painful to read as I hurt for you, Mike. Unfortun...Painful to read as I hurt for you, Mike. Unfortunately I know all too well the sadness you feel. I do love the statement you posted from C.S. Lewis. Good one...I just wish none of us had to hurt in this way, but I am learning that in all my pain and I am sure all your pain, the Lord continues to show up BIG even in the grief. Even when we ask "why, God" over and over. We do serve an amazing God. I do hope J has had the opportunity to meet your dad. I know if he has he has told him the impact his son had on his life because you certainly played a big role in J's life. (his wife, too!)Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03678947838999353115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12370444.post-27930938801161640632008-12-14T21:43:00.000-08:002008-12-14T21:43:00.000-08:00For me who still has my Dad, I cherish and treasur...For me who still has my Dad, I cherish and treasure every single day that I am able to spend with him and realize that only by the grace of God Almighty that I am blessed with the guidance and affirmations that only a dad can provide. My dad lost his Dad at the tender age of 5 and in some ways is like your father - uneducated by today's standards but none the less a very wise man. And I can promise you that your father would have been just as proud of your post-graduate work and my dad is of mine. I am truly blessed to be his daughter just as I am blessed by you. Merry Christmas to one truly remarkable person this side of Heaven.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12120871516111709799noreply@blogger.com