One Thing FOR SURE....

Yes, I can tell you ONE thing for sure. The love and companionship of friends is PRICELESS! Without all of your Prayers, Thoughts and Comments, we would have had it much tougher. Knowing of all your prayers and support gave us the strength to get through this most difficult time. I can never Thank You all enough.

We asked and you responded. When we got that dreaded call of losing Mikel and didn't know where to turn, we asked for your Prayers. You responded! I normally get around 225 hits on the days I publish this Blog . That day, May 12Th, we received 421....plus 59 comments. I have read those comments over and over and gotten so much comfort from them. I am sure I will read them again and again. Thank You all so very much. You will never know how helpful that was.  And, on top of that was all the phone calls, emails and dozens of cards. It certainly shows what a wonderful life we have and the friends we are blessed with. God Bless you all!!!

I have read the poems and personal comments in the cards we received over and over, too. They are all so special and comforting. So many Bible verses were quoted and I studied them all. Through this loss and the recent loss of Scott, my faith in the Lord continues to strengthen. It always reminds me that we have so much to be thankful for. So much, that it's impossible to put them all in words.

Mikel is all memories now and I remember so many of the good times we had. He was my first born. I was so proud of him. He was born back in 1955...55 years ago. I was a mere 20 years old. I always said "He and I grew up together". He was my little Cowboy. I took him everywhere, showed him off to everyone.  He was always such a good baby.  Back in those days, I was a Rodeo Cowboy, following rodeo's riding bucking horses and bulls for a living. Those are great memories that I will have forever. It was looking at him that made me realize that following Rodeo's was no place to raise a son. He was sleeping in dresser drawers at motels and the sun and dust was miserable for him at the rodeo's. His Mother had to shield the hot sun and try to keep dust and flies from bothering him. We didn't have much A/C back in those days. It was that, that made me sign off the rodeo circuit and get a real job. In my opinion, it was no place for a family man. I never looked back.  After a few years of driving Semi trucks and studying, I became a State Trooper on the Nebraska State Patrol. Mikel became a "Policeman's Son". That's not easy, but he loved it.

I remember one time when I was working nights and sleeping days, he was about 5 years old. He got in my Patrol car and got out my hand held "Stop Sign" and was stopping cars out in front of our house. A neighbor called his mother and told her what he was doing. The neighborhood had a good laugh about that.  Ah yes, there are many, many wonderful memories. I thank God that he let me have him to enjoy  for 55 years...

It was such a beautiful day in Tucson, AZ on the day of Mikel's Funeral.

Mikel still had a little Cowboy in him.  He always enjoyed his boots and cowboy hat. He was proud that his Dad was a Cowboy. He had a special love for my Dad, his Grandad McFall.  The "Cowboy Boots" that he loved to wear are now mine, sitting in my house as a Memorial to Mikel.

The Clock on the table was a special gift to him from Scott, his younger brother, who he gave a bone marrow transplant to a couple of years ago. Mikel and Scott were good friends and he was so saddened to lose him. The clock is now his Mothers to treasure.
Below are a few pictures from his Funeral taken by our sincere, true and loving friend Gina Thurston.

The Military Color Honor Guard was so impressive and they are active military members from Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vesta, AZ. where Mikel was stationed and lived for several years. He loved the Military.

Mikel and his two Sons, taken a few years back. That's Stephen on the left and Michael on the right.   He loved his boys.

This is a picture of Mikel and Karen taken 18 years ago at their Wedding. He was a proud, young Soldier.

My Boots......Thank You Mikel. They will be retired in your honor my Man. Forever displayed in my home.

May you rest in Peace and be united with your brother Scott. I know you boys will be right by my side.

Thank You all for bearing with us during these times of grieving. 

We are preparing for our departure from North Ranch in Arizona to our place in the Black Hills of South Dakota. That place is special for us and I know it will help us heal our souls. We hope to leave Tuesday morning and if the Lord is willing, we will be in Church with our our friends in Custer next Sunday..

We'll be going to our little Church in Wickenburg this morning to say our farewells and to thank everyone for their prayers and support.  We'll be back in a few months. 

Thank you all for stopping by.

Mike

This Blog is Published every Sunday and Wednesday..