Death of Our Grandfather

    That moment when your heart seems to be pulled from your chest - taking the breath out of your lungs - is replaced with a shock that casts doubt on the soundness of your hearing and robs your eyes of tears. That was how I’d describe myself when I learned on Tuesday morning that my Grandpa, Frank Tucker, had quietly passed away in his sleep the night before.
I and many others have been blessed to have had this man in our lives. He’s always been there for my     Mom and I for the last 22 years - which makes having to come to the realization that he’ll no longer be stopping by for a visit and calling or [in the last few years] FB messaging to check in on us - all the more difficult.
    God had been merciful in allowing my Grandpa to see all of his children become fathers and mothers on their own and to have been given the health to meet and spend time with his -now- eleven grandchildren of whom he was always so proud. I wish that he’d been given more time - that he could’ve even met my children someday - but the Lord had numbered his days and peacefully let him fall into a sleep from which he would never wake.
    I’m thankful for the memories we were able to make together (and capture in photos) and I will always appreciate the contributions he made in the lives of my extraordinary mom (Lisa) and incredible uncles/aunts who have been so supportive of one another through this time.
    Your memory is etched in my mind as your love has been impressed upon my heart.
-Andrew

Franklin R. Tucker 

4/9/47 - 3/15/16

The Day of Death

Most of the time the only things that are posted on this blog are the highlights from our adventures, but today is a little bit different.

This EXCELLENT message was given by Matt Scheffer at the funeral of the grandfather of some of our friends.  It’s only 15 minutes long and it’d be well worth watching.

Robin

  This morning I heard something hit the screen door of our front porch and found a robin lying on the floor.  It was gasping for air and it looked like maybe bones it had broken and the bird was in pain, so I was relieved to see it die just a couple of minutes later.

  When I occasionally have to watch an animal die or I attend a funeral I see it as a reminder that the Creation is cursed and death entered the world because of the sins of mankind.  Even my least favorite movies are those where a dog or a horse is the hero and end up dying.  I definitely wasn’t raised a farm boy ! 

  However, what’s even more important to remember is that all men will die because:

¹² “through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—…”

and then Romans 5 continues to talk about the God’s law – which the speakers at the CHEF Conference were addressing just a couple of days ago - and tells us how the Second Adam came and lived a perfect and righteous life:

²⁰ Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Memorial Day-9 Months

   This Saturday marked the 9 month anniversary of my Dad’s death.  We brought flowers to his gravesite and reflected on our times with him.  In some ways it seems like time has flown…we’re almost halfway through this year already…. but in other ways it seems like last fall was years ago.

 

The cemetery is called “Pleasant Meadows” and the views from this hill is amazing.  Plus, it’s only a few miles from our house.

Gideon-1 Year

Gideon died 1 year ago on January 5, 2010

“Booger!”

“Did you hear the one about...”

January 5, 2010