One of the things I got Steve for Christmas was this t-shirt that was designed for builders and flyers of RC planes.
Steve absolutely loved the shirt because he would be the first to tell you that it perfectly sums up his RC journey.
In recent months, he has worked his way through the flying and crashing stages and has now followed the arrows around the circle back to the building stage.
He always breezily assures me while he’s putting an airplane together that, “There’s nothing to it. You just follow the instructions.”
As if anyone could do it.
See? It’s easy!
Yes, it’s easy if you are mechanically minded, good with your hands, know how to use a veritable cornucopia of mysterious tools and can logically follow intricate, complicated instructions.
I eventually left Steve to his happy puttering and wandered around in the yard for a few minutes, snapping photos from that vantage point.
Just as I was getting ready to go back inside the house, I saw Sarah come out to the garage with her computer.
Steve had asked her to find some particular pictures for his sermon (that would be shown on our screens in the front of the sanctuary) and she had a couple of questions for him about the assignment.
As I stood quietly in the yard watching the two of them talk together, I was overtaken with such a sense of peace and gratitude.
I was thankful for my husband. Thankful for my daughter. Thankful for my home.
Thankful to belong in the circle created by the people I love so much.
Note: In reference to the blog posts I wrote last week about our friends losing their 31-year old son, here are the links to his Celebration of Life service. (Posted in two parts.)
Trust me when I say it was like no Celebration of Life service you’ve ever seen–more laughter than you can imagine, and many tears to go with that laughter.
If you only have time to watch a few minutes, let me mention a few highlights.
Fourteen minute mark: Millie (Mitch’s mom) shares a few words.
At around the twenty-nine minute mark, the choir does a fabulous number that will give you goose bumps. How they sang through all their tears just amazes me.
Mitch’s funeral (Part 2)
Fifteen minute mark: Ferrell gives a brief talk called, “What Mitch Would Say.” Incredible words that will touch your heart, especially if you have a loved one with substance abuse issues.
That glimpse of Steve and Sarah in the garage is like a Norman Rockwell painting and that is not a bad thing at all!
Mary,
I love Norman Rockwell; in fact, we have one of his books on our coffee table. I’m happy to know that our family has achieved one Norman Rockwell shot! 🙂
Glad Steve can spend time doing something he finds relaxing. I’m sure the building, flying, crashing cycle can be pretty therapeutic! 🙂 Love the shirt!
Glad to know where to find the first part of the funeral service as we did watch the second part. Ferrell and Millie are incredible people.
love deb
Deb,
Yeah, I was really happy to find that shirt online. The perfect gift!
Glad you got to see the part of the funeral where Millie talked. They truly are incredible people and were so very brave that night.
Randy,
Those were quite the years, weren’t they? 🙂 Between your and Steve’s talents combined, there weren’t many things you couldn’t fix.
And yes, Steve is having a great time with his building, flying and crashing!
Yes and amen to Steve’s mechanical skills. In our years traveling full time with you I was always amazed at his abilities to communicate in preaching, excellence in music and ability to seem to know exactly what to do mechanically on the vehicles, which was really important when we put 40k miles on them every year. And always with those gliders and airplanes. But what a great past time. Good job Steve keeping with it. Looks like you’re still have fun with it whether building, flying or crashing.:-)