This is the infamous, Elva Ker, with my Dad. They are sitting side by side in the front row. I think in this picture, my Dad looks like my brother, Stuart. Tommy, my Dad's brother is right above him with his hand over his eyes.
This is a picture of my Dad, this is the first time I have ever seen this picture. I get weepy when I see these pictures. Time, age, distance and wisdom have a way of giving perspective, a better but probably not the true perspective (as I believe that only comes with knowing the beginning to the end, including pre earth and afterlife, and as the apostles say, we are only in the 2nd act of a 3 act play). I miss my Dad very, very much. As I said before, with the different variables that come into play, I look at these differently now than I would have as a child. I miss my Dad because he is slowing leaving us. I hate that, it is hard for me not to. I wish I could reach out somehow and pull him back to us. With my limited earthly perspective it doesn't seem fair and I want him to be better, to be the one who told me stories of the Solomons and the Winkles, the one who watched every gymnastics meet of mine, the one that proof read all my papers, that would reassure me when ever I felt I wasn't good enough in something that I was trying to do. He would always tell me about his friend, Elva, who was better than him at everything. He always tried to help me feel better about myself, he would try to help me feel close to him by sharing those intimate details of his life that were hard for him. I always felt compassion from him. I miss the seminary classes, and all the Mutual age teenagers that would always come around, they loved him so much. I wish I could fly out to see him every day! I wish I could take this little boy and hold him in my arms and let him know that he is not alone, that someday he is going to be my dad! That I can't wait to see him, that I am so so glad that he, this little boy, is going to be my Dad. He sacrificed so much for us, but instead of resenting it, he loved it, and I could tell, even as a small child.
Sorry Dad, but I think the hat is cute! However, I do see that you are the only one having to wear a hat, so I feel for ya! You look so much like Janna, in this picture.
Mom said that Dad's mom made him wear this hat, (he is on the bottom row second from the right) and he hated it! He was the only one who had to wear a hat.
This is my Dad in the overalls, the cute little blond haired boy on the far left with his right hand in his pocket. It think he looks like Matthew there. His mother is standing just to his left.
This is Tommy on the left and my Dad on the right. I so wish I could hold him and tell that little boy how much I love him! Tommy died when my Dad was so young, only 8. My Dad was alone on the farm after that. The closest sibling to him after Tommy was 10 years older, so she was gone. I wish my Dad wasn't lonely as a child. I guess he sure made up for it when he had his own family, he had 5 kids and we haven't left him alone since!
This is my Grandmother, Bernetta Fackrell Smith. She died when I was young. I do not remember her much. I do remember that she lived with us for a short time.
This is my Grandfather, Melvin Thomas Smith. Both of them were born in the 1800's. I'll have to get the exact date later. I did not know him. I believe he died on Christmas day.
