Thursday, November 12, 2015

PAUL & LINDA - Lafayette, IN


Tate, Jennifer, Ryder, Choice, Shiloh, Juliann, Linda, and Paul
We awoke to a beautiful day in Indiana.  Shiloh had just received roller skates similar to Tate's, so she was begging to find a place to ride around.  We found a huge park that was perfect for the kids to run and play before we began the scheduled part of our day.

Choice and Ryder
Choice and Ryder
Shiloh and Tate
Shiloh and Tate
Shiloh and Tate
Shiloh and Tate
Tate and Shiloh
Tate and Shiloh
Juliann and Tate
Juliann and Tate
Juliann and Shiloh
Ryder, Shiloh, Tate, and Choice
Choice, Rusty, Ryder, Shiloh and Tate
Rusty
We spent a good two hours playing before we climbed aboard the bus and made our way to our visit in Lafayette. 

Rusty
Jason was feeling generous, and a bit wild, allowing Choice and Tate to take the wheel for a portion of the drive.  I am happy to report that despite these reckless actions, we made it to our destination safely. :-)

Jason and Choice
Jason and Tate
We let Rusty out for a moment when we arrived at our visit only to witness her going totally crazy.  The kids and Jason made up a song for her titled "Wild Dog" and she was certainly living up to those words.  For that reason, we left her on the bus for the remainder of the visit. 

Rusty and Shiloh
Shiloh and Rusty
Shiloh, Rusty, and Tate
Ryder, Rusty, and Choice
Ryder and Rusty
From the onset of our visit, we were encircled with loving kindness and welcoming hospitality.  Sweet Linda and Paul had placed signs on their doors and a banner on their garage welcoming us to their home. 


Choice, Shiloh, Ryder, and Tate
Choice, Shiloh, Ryder, Tate, and Juliann
Choice, Shiloh, Ryder, Tate, and Juliann
I need to mention that they had just arrived home extremely late last night from a trip out of the country.  Despite jet lag and all of the aftermath that is required following a large trip, they allowed us to come by and spend part of their day with them.  They were so selfless and wonderful. 

Paul, Ryder, Linda, Juliann, Tate, Shiloh, and Choice
The kids were about as patient today as Rusty was calm.  They didn't even get past the front entry way before ripping the be better bands and cards out of the bag to give to Linda and Paul.  It was Choice and Tate this time who explained what the bands stand for.  This was a first!  Although the message was difficult to understand, it was beautiful for me to see the way they've blossomed throughout this journey and grasped more and more onto the purpose of this endeavor.  Linda, being a former elementary school teacher, understood the little boys far better than most would have been able to do.  
 
Linda, Shiloh, Tate, and Juliann
Linda and Choice
We sat in the living room and spent time visiting and sharing stories with each other.  The kids were able to sit with Linda and Paul and more thoroughly explain the cards they'd created for them. 

Choice, Juliann, Tate, Linda, and Shiloh
Juliann, Tate, Linda, and Shiloh
Shiloh, Juliann, and Linda
Ryder and Linda
Linda, Tate, and Juliann
Choice made himself right at home.  I turned my eye for just a moment to see that he had begun doing somersaults along the living room carpet.  

Choice, Tate, Juliann, and Linda
Choice, Tate, Juliann, and Linda
Neither Linda nor Paul seemed to mind.  In fact, they assured me that they enjoyed the youthful energy in their home as they do not have any grandchildren and their girls are both grown.  We were blessed to meet their daughter, Jennifer, today as well.  What a beautiful and delightful woman.  She is an artist, like her father.  Jennifer expresses herself through graphic design while Paul uses his artistry to create one of a kind portraits.  As a matter of fact, this talent of Paul's is what brought us to their home today.

Immediately following the tragedy, Paul was moved to draw a portrait of each of the men on the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew who lost their lives in Yarnell.  I remember vividly the day that I received the portrait he'd drawn of Andrew.  I was moved to tears by the realism he'd captured of my dear husband.  It was as if I was staring into the eyes of the man whom I love and lost.  I never thought I'd see that radiant smile again in this lifetime, and for a brief moment, it was as if I'd been given that chance. 

 
It was touching to see a man with his phenomenal artistic abilities compliment the pictures the children had drawn for he and Linda.  Ryder worked very hard on his picture and Paul made him feel like an up-and-coming Rembrandt. 

Ryder and Paul
Choice, Tate, and Paul
Tate and Paul
Shiloh, Choice, and Paul
Time seemed to fly by as we visited about everything under the sun.  It was such a joy to learn more about Paul and Linda's family history, hobbies, and values.  Jennifer shared that her parents were constantly entertaining at their home during her childhood.  Their house was a gathering place because they had games and activities around the house that were enticing to the neighborhood kids AND Linda always made a feast!  

I learned this first hand today as she and Jennifer put together a beautiful spread for lunch.  They fed us like royalty while we continued our conversation around their dining room table. 
 
Tate, Juliann, and Choice

Tate
Shiloh and Ryder
Tate, Choice, Shiloh, and Ryder
The kids lost interest in adult conversation rather quickly and began getting into mischief around the house...

Choice and Tate
Shiloh, Tate, and Choice
About the time we discovered the kids in a crawl space with handfuls of candy wrappers, the remnants of the treats they'd secretly taken out of the kitchen, we knew it was time to go.  

Ryder, Choice, Tate, and Shiloh
Tate, Jennifer, Ryder, Choice, Shiloh, Juliann, Linda, and Paul
Tate, Jennifer, Ryder, Choice, Shiloh, Juliann, Linda, and Paul
Paul has been given a gift by God.  His beautiful masterpieces capture the essence of the individual whom he's drawing.  Below is his information for those interested in his beautiful work. 


Paul is extraordinary, not only in his talent but in his desire to utilize that gift to bless the lives of others.  In his own words, see why he felt motivated to reach out to us...


Paul gave us the gift of seeing these honorable and courageous men once more.  Please take a moment to remember each of these heroes; these friends, husbands, fathers, and sons.  These are the Granite Mountain Hotshots...may they never be forgotten. 
















 



ESSE QUAM VIDERI

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