Honoring Roger and Laughter is Good Medicine

 Today we celebrated our son-in-law Roger at a beautiful service at the Next Step Christian Church. The day was filled with good phamily, friends and a support system that kept this entire phamily upright during this past year.

Pastor Dusty opened his church and his church hall to Noelle and all her loved ones. It was simply beautiful.  My husband Avery, our son Jeremy and good friend Jeff R. each chose Scripture to read at the service. Pastor Dusty gave a short but very lovely prayer service, Scripture reading and spoke so beautifully about Roger, Then our strong and brave daughter Noelle gave her eulogy that she wrote. Twenty minutes of tears, laughter, a photo collage (thank you Tarrah) and beautiful music.

As we left the chapel area, which was packed, we saw the hallway was lined by so many wonderful friends and phamily who arrived to pay their respect. I had to stop and lean against the wall because the support was absolutely incredible. We had a beautiful meal provided by Boston Market and enjoyed the company of many old and new friends. Our phamily support was terrific. I told a good friend, there is not one person here today that did not know Noelle & Roger personally. A true testimony to my son-in-law who I am going to miss terribly. Yet I would not wish him back to this earth and all the pain and suffering he had to deal with . His grace and fortitude was epic.

Roger was very private and he took a while to get to know you. But once he did, he was fiercely loyal to all he loved. I can't help but think he stood there holding Noelle up (he did not like to see her sad and crying) and enjoyed watching us from his new heavenly home with Alastor Avery. He had said he wanted to join Alastor.  We all knew that the suffering was getting harder and he wanted to some peace. We prayed for miracles but sometime we see God Break our hearts because he has something in store for us that we know nothing about. I believe Roger knew his time with Our Lord had arrived. He left peacefully and now we walk carefully trying to put pieces of our hearts back together.

Roger had a silly side and we could laugh and be silly and his silly faces were incredibly hilarious. He had a way about him that was one-of-a-kind. Although he is now away from us in this world, we all pray we will see him on the other side. A favorite photo of Noelle's of Roger. His urn was Roger, 100 percent, all the way. . He was the coolest dude to ever ride a Harley and I enjoyed every ride he ever gave me. His safety awareness for motorcyclists was unbelievable. I always felt safe on the back of his bike. Gonna miss you numero uno Son-In-Law. Catch ya on the other side. 

So in honor of my son-in-law Roger, I am posting some good old fashioned laughter. It is  songs you should never play at a wedding. I know Roger would have enjoyed the laughter.

Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon and Garfunkel

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town Kenny Rogers and the First Edition

Gotta Move On Diddy and Bryson Tiller

It Ain't Over Yet Rodney Crowell (featuring Roseann Cash)

No Hard Feelings Old Dominion

Burning Bridges The Mike Curb Congregation ( Kelly's Heroes)

Go and Say Goodbye Buffalo Springfield

She Got The Goldmine, I Got The Shaft Jerry Reed

Mr. & Mrs. Used To Be John Prine 

D-I-V-O-R-C-E Tammy Wynette

After the Fire Is Gone Tammy Wynette & George Jones

Making Believe Willie Nelson & Brandi Carlile

I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishing Song) Brad Paisley

You Give Love A Bad Name Bon Jovi

You're So Vain Carly Simon

Fake Love Drake

Mother-in-Law Ernie K. Doe

All My Ex's Live in Texas George Strait

Fifty ways to Leave Your Lover Paul Simon

Highway to Hell AC/DC

Love Stinks J. Geils Band

Love Will Tear Us Apart Joy Division

Suspicious Minds Elvis Presley

Go Your Own way Fleetwood Mac

A Man Needs A Maid Neil Young

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For U2

Should I Stay Or Should I Go The Clash

White Liar Miranda Lambert

Blank Spaces Taylor Swift

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together Taylor Swift

I hope you will indulge me. I had so much fun laughing with Avery as we compiled this list. Taylor Swift and  the late Tammy Wynette & George Jones are the winners here as they could sing a sad song with a back story. Swift writes much of her own music and Tammy & George were country music sweethearts with their heart break songs.

Here's to Roger for a life , although too short, was well lived.

Laughter is indeed Good Medicine!

Bittersweet Birthday Wishes

 Today is a very bittersweet day. Although our daughter Noelle celebrated her birthday she had hoped she and the love of her life, Roger would have celebrated together.  They were both born on this day twelve years apart. Noelle and her sister Rebekah had this sweet cake created for Roger even though he lost his cancer battle on December 6th. It has been a sad time for those of us who loved this man so dearly.

A photo of the two of them when life was not so complicated.

Roger was a good man. When my late mother met him, she told me, Noelle needs to be nice to him because he was a good man, a keeper. Let me tell you if you had the approval of my mom you were good as gold.

I wish I had a photo of myself with him on his Harley . I would never get on a motorcycle with anyone else. Roger loved riding his bike and he was by the book, safety first. He was a joy to visit with and I will miss the many breakfast and lunch dates we had when we were both out of work. Spending sometime with this man during the difficult times was a true honor. I will never forget all the good times and his fierce love of his wife, kids and grandkids.  He was always making sure everyone was cared for. Always helping each of them with anything they needed.

He will be greatly missed by Noelle, their children, Christal (Alex), Andrew (Tarrah) and Colton (Jacey). He said he wanted to be with Alastor, the precious grandbaby we lost in 2019. He received that wish on the night he passed away to his eternal home. 

The grandchildren will miss him and his never ending love for each one of them. Jaslin, Alexis, Devin, Jayden, Michael, Benjamin, Logan, Ella, Harrison and Shea.

When I feel up to posting full time,  I will,  but these months and particularly these last few weeks have been difficult for everyone. I hope you will pray for us as we celebrate Roger's life this Saturday . He is going to be  missed by all of us. 

John 16:22  "So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."