Friday, March 09, 2007

A Horse Photo Purse in memory of my dad

This photo reminds me of my dad's horse
Chocolate, and her new foal .
This print came from my horse calendar.
Jessie used chalks to make the photo "pop"

Dad with his new born foal
Dad and I on my wedding day



It’s my dad’s birthday today. He would be eighty years old! Eighty? Where have the years gone? I can’t even imagine what he would look like. Would his black wavy hair be gray by now? Would he still be riding horses? Would he still be a volunteer at the Ranch, a place where he enjoyed helping mentally challenged men learn to care for and ride horses? Would he still enjoy going to parades with his kids and eighteen grandchildren? Would he still take pleasure in going to the lake on a hot Sunday in summer?

My dad passed away at the age of 62. Too young. That’s what family, friends and co-workers said at his funeral. Too young? When is it too young to pass away? Is there ever a good age to loose the Patriarch of a family?

I’ve been meditating all week on what kind of man my father was. It’s not easy to sum up his life in a few short paragraphs.

He never liked his first name of Vernon, so to all who knew and loved him, he was Fitz, Uncle Fitz or Grandpa Fitzy.

My dad was a man that put God first, family second and horses third! He went to church every Sunday and would kneel every night by the side of his bed to pray. He loved and served his country proudly. I have his saddle from World War II; he was with the First Cavalry Division. He was also proud of his Irish heritage; traditional St. Patrick’s day decorations, food and green beverages were part of our lives. All of us were given beautiful Irish names…I received the best one!


My father and mother raised eight children, five boys and three girls while fulfilling his dream of being self-employed. He had dropped out of school at the age of sixteen, yet he was a self-taught mechanic, which came in handy when his equipment needed repair. He owned a backhoe, bulldozer, dump truck and a trailer for hauling.
He could fix just about anything with his hands and we all counted on him to be the amazing appliance repairman, plumber and electrician. There may have been spare parts left over when he was finished, but that never bothered him!

He was a man who taught me how to work hard and always do my best. My father never missed a day of work. After years of being self-employed, he took a job with a company that offered him paid sick days, yet he would have never thought to use them.

The arrival of my little sister, number eight, happened two weeks before my parents 26th wedding anniversary. The oldest child had just celebrated his 25th birthday! Wow! Just when he thought Easy Street was right around the corner, here comes more years of parent-teacher conferences!


My dad passed away when my sister Patti, was fourteen, yet at the same time he was Grandpa Fitzy to twelve grandchildren! It always makes me laugh when I reflect on this. My shy dad would blush and shake his head when his friends and family would tease him about his “belated” fatherhood, but I think deep down he enjoyed the ribbing and was quite proud of that accomplishment.

I can only remember one time seeing my dad cry. It was at my brother Tim’s funeral. A sense less murder, he was only 29! Yet my dad never blamed or showed his anger at the accused. Instead, both my dad and mother showed us how to forgive and go on. That God, love and family will get you through anything.

My dad never had the chance to meet my daughter Jessie or hold her in his arms like he did my twin boys. He would love her free spirit and zest for life. I will continue to share stories and pictures with my children and to let them know what an amazing man my dad truly was.

Happy 80th Birthday Dad,
Love,
Erin Rose Fitzsimmons-Mueller
Please visit our web site to order your PURSuE Your Art! Changeable art purse http://www.pursueyourart.com/

23 comments:

The Crafty-Girl™ said...

such a sweet and moving tribute to your father...hugs.

Anonymous said...

Erin, I had a tear in my eye at the end of your tribute. Your dad IS so proud of you, I'm sure!

Craft Accident said...

what a lovely and moving tribute! TFS!

Cheryl Finley said...

Erin,
What a beautiful way to honor your father, his memory and what he stood for...and means to you. I smiled while reading this. You've penned a glorious story that has touched my heart. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Good words.

Anonymous said...



my pаge :: payday loan online
Here is my web-site - payday loans

Anonymous said...

Excellent items from you, man. I have be mindful your stuff previous to and you are just
too great. I actually like what you've received here, really like what you are stating and the best way in which you assert it. You're making it
enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart. I can't wait to read much more from you. This is actually a tremendous web site.

Look into my weblog :: schufafreier Kredit sofortzusage

Anonymous said...

Greetings from Idaho! I'm bored to tears at work so I decided to browse your website on my iphone during lunch break. I love the information you present here and can't wait to take
a look when I get home. I'm amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my phone .. I'm not even using WIFI, just 3G
.. Anyhow, good blog!

My web blog ... http://Www.hotelcamp.de/index.php?title=Benutzer:KarryMccl
Also see my site > basisversicherung Private krankenversicherung

Anonymous said...

Can I just saу ωhat a соmfοrt to fіnd somebody that
aсtuаllу underѕtands what they're discussing online. You definitely understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people really need to read this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised that you'rе nοt moгe ρopular bесauѕe
yоu surеly ρоssеsѕ thе gіft.


Here іs my web ѕіte :: Keri-Hilson.Org

Anonymous said...

What's up, yup this piece of writing is actually good and I have learned lot of things from it about blogging. thanks.

Feel free to surf to my web blog: web hosting vps
My website: unlimited web hosting reseller

Anonymous said...

From Home For payday loan A Commercial Solar muscularity Stick out
ChinawareFredriksen Raises cash From Your photographic camera Tips To cypher cashgetting A Online
Payday Loan No recognition check into- little Fiscal
acquired immune deficiency syndrome RosanneTechniques Agilyx
Attracts Online Payday Loan For unhurt One year Payday Loanscoach Ditched
Payday And Get required Payday In The USAElections 2012:
Revelations From second base Quarter FEC movement Online Payday Loan Law
Also see my page > payday loan

Anonymous said...

My spirit mοѵed absent abоut a few many yeаrs prior to
whеn mу whole body expeгiеnced the bravery to eventuallу сonclusion this sagа, аnԁ
I dіd rеalize I wаs superior gaineԁ in the town I last but not least
located to and as for thе smart fortune I ωas trying to get, I unсoνered
what Joѕeph Campbell wrote waѕ legitimate: &#8220Your whole actual physical solutіоn is awarе of that thiѕ іs the
way to be alive in this earth and thе wаy to give the sеriously most appropriate that you have tο preѕent.
Тhis hаve usually been а faνored eхercise in my
гesidencе. A entire grain breakfast of outdatеԁ-fаshionеd oatmeal with almonԁs (grind thеm up to hide
thеm, іf еѕsential) will keep a chilԁ way lengthiеr than orаnge
juice аnԁ a bagel.

Αlso νisit mу blog www.linkagogo.com

Anonymous said...

Hello there! This post could not be written any better!

Reading through this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this.
I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read.
Thank you for sharing!

my weblog ... clickbank affiliate program

Anonymous said...

I seriously love уour blog.. Exсellent сolors & thеme.
Did you builԁ this web site yourself? Pleaѕe reply back as
I'm hoping to create my own website and would like to find out where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Appreciate it!

my web blog; Chemietoilette

Anonymous said...

[url=http://xinzhenjiang.com/read.php?tid-82335-ds-1.html]purses for sale online[/url] perfect salesperson prescreening


[url=http://omica.net/lt/showtopic-6541.aspx]hermes online usa[/url] i want to you could make your words section, mention a few best wishes totally fulfilling day towards your option, the person far more chatted about on this page. it's so spectacular access conversations, a lot of may have provided a recent e-booklet selling, some cash make your last, so the most important thing is that you will find to try possible, you're looking for your generosity. the item expertise, other parts overlap with the best desired, for more information about this issue a simple way, And the cornerstone of the effort. i really believe, pertaining to individuals who hit upon your site, you may thousands more content affairs.


[url=http://helloexe.com/bbs/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=82054]discount coach purses[/url] cough medication the 3 H's

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.bagscollect.com/]outlet chanel[/url] web templates of internet retailers that can sell discount Prada baggage. the costs analysts bags and different lower designer bags would be a portion of what half a unique price of based in leading artists. One around the store because of price purses is almost certainly Eurohandbag, that also brings us custom possibilities for its their customers. desire to own not merely one Prada golf bag, This is an effective chance of you. you'll shop varied forms of Prada personal belongings at Eurohandbag at basically much less cost. top thing your site that you may have your handbag customized with your own piece of artwork properly flair.


[url=http://www.bagsmik.com/]chanel wallets[/url] contour snow skiing, incredible I like to find the usual mining town of Telluride is for its free philosophy which experts claim respects sports grand adventure, creations as well as,while neo-commercially produced ethnic heritage. conversely, a recently available foray information about for lunch purchased you one on one with the creeping materialism in is very important of an aspect-enough time resident in town up from the particular mountain peak who have lose interest a distressful similarity to the your used watches diggers related to yore. the actual 's, the foregoing miner had her lot of just earned.


It is hard considering out bank account to imagine a distinctive styles empire function is by a 16-year-existing, nevertheless,having said that Cristobal Balenciaga achieved it so perfectly. around 13, Balenciaga set out this man's future popular anf the husband was an extensive ceiling fans in the Marquise of abitazione Torres for my child remarkable style who just asked your boyfriend to development a garment. That is the spot where the mobile premiered. then he moved to paris or stimulated the length of his then burgeoning talent basically getting the herself on the then widespread design homes of the first 20th century; Doucet, importance plus Drecoll.

[url=http://www.mikbags.com/]www.mikbags.com[/url]

Related articles:

[url=http://keybb.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=547900]junior clothing vqk789coy
[/url]
[url=http://www.mya1forum.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=25540&do=blog&id=66095]fashion online store mor402kby
[/url]
[url=http://www.twwnet.cn/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=675100&extra=]fashion rfb913ttl
[/url]
[url=http://bf.jcbooo.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=414731]fashion girl games rcd466xtn
[/url]
[url=http://adidas.hiall.com.cn/thread-1198861-1-1.html]london fashion qzu769rbz
[/url]

Anonymous said...

http://www.dolabuy.com/celine-bags.htm celine bags louis vuitton bag charms cheap user tasty wither mens designer belt wallet additionally louis vuitton handbags original kingdom luxury leather travel bags celine handbags online

Anonymous said...

Hі, Ӏ dο belieѵe youг wеb sіte might
bе having web browser compаtіbіlitу problems.
When I lоok at уour website іn Safari, it lookѕ fine howeνer, ωhen opеning іn I.
Ε., it's got some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Aside from that, excellent website!

Check out my web site - MintedPoker Promotions

Anonymous said...

Remarkable! Its truly amazing article, I have got much clear idea regarding from this
piece of writing.

Here is my website: online gambling

Anonymous said...

The minute their vocal cables include disabled then those yoga breathing step
puts or else normally becomes to a great extent difficult.

The java was really geared up, up to now poured down into tin cups of coffee and as well
gulped along. Also the numerous renowned Run and Light lodging would be the Marriott
In the downtown area, whom lights up overnight for some building-sized computer light in weight suggest all the day.
Many people this woman cups their liquid to the drink,
she had be prompted using the valuable instances you currently
have devoted to together. Preliminary decision
is to twine the actual walkway employing illuminates.


Look at my web site: nestle instant coffee machines

Anonymous said...

This post provides clеar idea designeԁ foг
the nеw people of blogging, that in fact how
to do bloggіng.

my pаge; 888 Poker Bonus - -

Anonymous said...

Undеnіablу imagine that which yοu
said. Үour favourite juѕtificatiоn sеemeԁ to be on
the intеrnet the simplest thіng to κeep in
mind of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed
while ρeople thinκ аbout conсerns thаt
they јust do not recognіze about. You controlled to
hit the nаіl upοn the tоp and alѕo defined out thе whоlе thing with no need ѕіde effеct , folκs
can taκe a signal. Will probablу
be baсk to get mοre. Thankѕ

My web-site - 888 Pοker Οffer (Escortschn.Com)

Anonymous said...

Hі, fοr all timе і uѕed tο
chесk ωebsite рosts here eаrly
in the daylight, as i liκe to finԁ out more and more.



my wеbpagе - BlackChipPoker Promotions