Props to my Pops (and Moms)

That dude right there getting ready to carve up the Thanksgiving Bird....that's my dad. Or, depending on what circle you roll in....
Ray
Raym
Big Ray
The Old Toe
Toesy
Toesy-ose
Old Boy
Pa
Grampa
Beba

This post is for him.

I don't want to put him on too high a pedestal, but I must say, I am honored and blessed to have a man like this train me up as a youngster and come beside me as an an amazing support and friend as I became an adult and then father. I could go on and on and list his good qualities and abilities, but I don't have to....The Lord knows...and that's enough. But I will say this...the man has taught me so much. Most of what I know and who I am is rooted in the talents and abilities that The Lord entrusted to my father who took the time to teach and show me. Score another one for generational blessing.
He's "retired" by social security standards, but the guy still works like a dog. In addition to the myriad of project he undertakes on our homestead, he also is the care giver to my elderly grandmother (his mom) who came to live with him and my mom about a year ago. I wanted to just take a minute and show off a few of the projects that The Old Toe has been throwing down around the yard:


Additional gardens in the back. last year, our main garden area looked like this:



There's two new long gardens to the right of the main garden. We're throwing down mad crops this year. Next....


The refurbished dock that I talked about in the last post. We've already spent more time on the dock this Spring than we did all of last year.


New waterfront gardens. Onions on the left, strawberries on the right. These were put in late last season. Now...for this year's Piece de resistance:




The fabrication of our new pumpkin patch. The Old Boy put this together this afternoon...these photos were taken a few hours ago. He really outdid himself. I can't wait to see this area full of green tendrils and orange pumpkins....I think we're going to have to put together a scarecrow in the Fall to stick in the middle.

I also wanted to document the progress with our homeschool room. It's not finished yet, but coming along nicely. I'm finishing the floor next week, then just a bit of buttoning up before we start moving furniture in.

Before:


After:


Before:


After:



Thanks, Dad...for all you are and all you do. Thank you for loving The Lord and loving your family so beautifully and sacrificially.

Now, I'd be remissed if I didn't also take a quick moment and mention that...as you well know...usually...behind every good man there is a good woman...and that age-old sentiment rings true in my family.


That there's my moms. A gentle, quiet soul who loves The Lord so much. She provides such a beautiful, calming stability to our family. She keeps us grounded, loved, and bathed in prayer...and she makes the best peanut blossom Christmas cookies you'll ever eat. I love you too, mom.

Praise God. Thank you.