How time flies!

Three years ago this date, Pepa left us for greener pasture.  This past Friday was three years to the exact day.  No doubt, he was ready.  Much more so than any of us were for him to go.


I remember that day well.  He was just out of the hospital, the doctor advising us to admit him into hospice care, just the day before.  Pat and I decided to let Memama and Pepa get comfortable and adjusted to that idea.


Pat had asked Dr. Eaker what he saw happening with Pepa, and he replied, "I wish I knew God's plan for your Dad.  He could be here a year from now or we could lose him tomorrow."  Little did we know how prophetic his words would be.  Simply stated, we weren't dealing with one malady for Pepa.  His entire body was worn out.


Earlier in that day, Pepa was sitting in his chair, leaned horribly over the chair arm.  He just was not himself.


We were plowing on our final place with the v-ripper.  I was running days and Bill was running nights.  I was on the tractor and received a call from Rian as he drove back to Lubbock for the girl's regional basketball tournament, and Rian was tearful and upset.  He told me, "Dad, I don't think I will see Pepa again."  I told him to just feel good that he had been able to see him.


At seven in the evening Bill and I were switching off the tractor and I contemplated going by Memama and Pepa's.  After a long day, I opted to stay on the highway and go home.


Just as I walked in the door I got a call from Pat.  "Pepa is gone", she said.  "They are working on him but I have seen enough people die to know he is gone".


I jumped through the shower so quickly I barely got wet, then quickly dressed and headed back to Sweetwater or Roscoe, wherever they were going to be.  Nine minutes away, I got the call from Pat.  Pepa was DOA at Rolling Plains Memorial.


Ironically, just a few hours after Rian and I talked, I made a call to Erica, knowing that Rian was a working administrator at the basketball game.  I told her to tell him after the game.  It was only a few minutes before he called me back.


It is eerie to think about how clear all of this has come back.


I remember this song was a great comfort then, as it is today.


We're pilgrims on a journey of the narrow way,
And the who've gone before us line the way.
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary,
their lives a living testament to GOD's sustaining GRACE.


Surrounded by so great  a cloud of testament,
let us run the race not only for the prize,
And as those who've gone before us,
Let us leave for those behind us,
a  heritage of faithfulness passed on through GODLY lives.


Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.


Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.


AMEN FATHER, tell Pepa and Fred and TJ hello.