Bumpa!

there are certain scents, sounds and places that can remind you of a circumstance or a person. today as we ventured to oregon we stopped at the klamath river rest stop i felt such an experience. whenever i am there i can't help think of my dad.

he was an attorney by trade. he was an honest, hard working man who shared much with many. though he was an attorney he had a great love for white water river rafting, and he shared that love with many. he happily arranged for many church members and non members to enjoy a week on the rapids, several times each summer. those who went didn't realize how much he paid for the trip out of his own pocket. he simply wanted to give them an experience to remember...and did he ever!

he and my mom made all the arrangements. you know the saying "behind every great man is an even greater woman"? this was true of my mom. she was the behind the scenes person, figuring out all the menus, doing all the grocery shopping. it was a labor of love for the two of them.

so, while i stood next to the klamath river today i could imagine my dad, where he may have put those rafts into the river; i could see him standing there with his crazy fisherman hat, his plaid shirt and his cut off jeans. but what i could imagine the most was the joy on his face that showed through his excitement at being there.

Bumpa's White Water Rafting adventures were many - but the best part of it was that he was given that name by his grandchildren, and they were what mattered the most to him (besides my mom and the gospel of Jesus Christ). i am so grateful that there are times when i can be where my dad loved to be, and i can feel him near.