It started out in a little town nestled in the valley between the hills of West Virginia. They didn't have much money, but they had a love that withstood the test of time. They were happy in good times and in bad. They survived strikes and lay offs. Winter snows and summer storms. They had a good life and loved deeply.
Within a couple of years of getting married, that love grew to include their two little daughters....born just 13 months apart. They were so precious and so full of abundant energy. Both had a head full of natural curls, just like their mommy. The Big Sister had green eyes like the Mommy's and the baby girl had big blue eyes like her Daddy's.
Over the years, the love grew and the boys came. The girls were 2 and 3 years old when Brother #1 arrived and were 10 and 11 when Brother #2 came along. They all knew love and laughter in that old home place up a country road. Daddy worked real hard to support his family while Mommy stayed home to cook, clean and care for the precious children God had entrusted to her care. There were many summer days spent playing in that old yard and many winter nights snuggled in the living room with the stove giving off it's warm glow.
By 1981, the three oldest were married and living their own life in their own little houses tucked into that little village town. Baby brother still lived at home, but before long, he would soon spread his wings and fly. But holidays and Sundays almost always found them back in that old house up the holler.
Through lots of laughter, lots of love, many grandchildren and many, many memories, those "ole days" up the country road are still alive in our memories.
In 1999, we lost our beloved father, Luke Garretson, to congestive heart failure at the age of 75. Daddy would be 88 years old today. There is not a day goes by that I don't think of him and miss him. He was my idol, my hero. I was a Daddy's girl and knew without a shadow of doubt how much he loved us. Mom moved out of the holler and my brother has remodeled the old home place. We'll never go back to those days of yesteryear. Daddy will never see his great grandchildren or feel their love. But I know he is up there watching over us. I still feel his presence walking the streets of my home town when I go back to visit. So many wonderful memories of a very wonderful man.
I love you, Daddy. Happy birthday.
