This afternoon I had a real treat as I was able to sit in a local church and listen to my son Dennis play the pipe organ. My daughter Becky took this picture of me and it looks like I was bored. But I was just focused on the beautiful music filling the church…hymns, preludes and other songs I remember hearing Dennis play when he was the organist at our home church in Great Bend, Kansas when he was just eleven and twelve years old…clear up until he was out of high school. Where has the time gone? Dennis has such a special talent and plays with great confidence and power. I often think this is what heaven’s like, as I’m listening to him play the beautiful compositions of J. S. Bach, or the special arrangements by Paul Manz that he’s learned.
I had such a terrific celebration for my 89th birthday yesterday at my daughter’s house. She prepared a delicious ham dinner and I was able to spend the day with both my twins, Becky and Dennis, my son-in-law Larry, my daughter-in-law Marie and my grandson Matt, his wife Lucja and their three daughters Kindall, Taylor and Alyssa. I feel very blessed that I was able to spend time with my family! It was really a highlight of my year.
Dennis learned to be a magician probably 30 years ago as he was serving in the US Army as a Recruiter. He’s entertained us on so many occasions with magical illusions. Yesterday even his wife Marie surprised me with a special birthday wish that appeared on a scarf she pulled from a magical bag!
Nobody knows me better than my kids! Dennis proved that when he gave me this sign for my birthday:
He knows that when I was out of high school back in 1940 I wanted to establish a career as a Western Singing “Star”. I sang on the radio as “The Sunflower Wrangler”, but never made it to the “Big Time” because I had children to support as a single parent when my first marriage ended. I still tell my family and friends that actually I was a “WannaBe” Western Star. So that makes this plaque that Dennis gave me quite fitting, don’t you think?
I still have a couple days to enjoy Dennis and Marie’s company. It’s just great to have them in my house---to hear him sit down and play the piano or do some planning for my future. We’re all having a good time.
