It’s difficult to process that it’s been more than a year since I wrote a blog post. I’d like to say that we spent the better part of that year honing our homesteading skills, but that would be more or less a lie. Don’t get me wrong…I pickled some jalapeños and made strawberry jam from some delicious Korean strawberries, continued homeschooling, made plenty of laundry detergent, deodorant and pizza crust, but that’s about it. Better to say we were overcome by events during the last year, which was quite a doozy.

It started out simply enough with a busy fall, progressed quickly through the holidays, practically skipped spring, sent us sprawling into summer, through another fall complete with a move back to the States (a tale for another time), the latest holidays and a brand new year. There were several family trips within Korea and one, with just the kids and me, back to the States in late January ’17. However, our trip last summer involved all of us and culminated when we said goodbye to my father. The man who helped shape the person I am today succumbed to his battle with COPD seven months ago.

Dad was a dreamer. He could see the beauty in things that most of us find ordinary. His art and photography helped us see what was in his “mind’s eye” and enriched our everyday lives. It was a great tribute when, at his visitation and service, myriad people mentioned that they had one (or more) of his drawings or photographs hanging on the walls of their homes. And “magic time” will forever remind me to watch for that beauty and ensure others appreciate it too.

Dad was a conservationist. He believed in taking care of the Earth even if that meant working a little harder or taking a little longer. He wanted nothing more than to leave the world a better place than he found it, and he never wanted to take up more space than necessary. He used to tell my mom, “when I die, have me cremated, and pour me down a fence post hole.” And although we couldn’t quite bring ourselves to do just that, I think he’d approve of our alternative.

Dad was the original upcycler. He never met a piece of “inventory” that he didn’t like, and he probably had a plan for most of it or would eventually. I suppose I’m like that to an extent too, although my “inventory” consists mostly of fabric and sewing notions. How appropriate it is that I have ideas for a bit of his inventory when we finally begin construction at our own little slice of heaven.

Dad was also the original Google. You could ask him the forecast for the next week, the best time of year to visit Glacier, how much a bushel of corn was going for at the river, etc. and he’d rattle off the answers before you even had a chance to finish the questions. He read and researched, and I loved getting links to articles about sustainable agriculture, growing lavender, and different types of alternative energy sources or funny puns and jokes. With the time difference, I inevitably had a new Facebook message when I woke up in the morning. I sure do miss starting the day that way!

Dad touched many lives throughout his years, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and miss him. We were blessed to have him while we did, and I hope he’s watching over us now.  So until we see each other again, I’ll just say good night, love ya, see ya in the morning Dad.