Soaring the Heavens

Here is a poem shared at many military pilot's memorial services. I love the imagery. Don't know that it will be used to honor Daddy, but wanted to capture it here because it's such a tribute to what he loved to do.

source

HIGH FLIGHT

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies 

on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, 

and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds 

and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of 

wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence, 

Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air,

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the windswept heights 

with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space.

Pout out my hand, 

and touched the face of God.

--John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

***

Dad's Scriptures

Mom and I were pondering scriptures the other day that spoke to us particularly about Daddy, and she shared this story with me:

When Dad was serving in Vietnam, he carried Psalm 23 with him every day -- on his body -- everywhere he went. He told her he read those verses every single day, and it brought him great comfort in the midst of that terrible chaos of war.

Find image and meditation here.

PSALM 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; 

I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk 

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwellf in the house of the LORD

forever.

--English Standard Version

***

Daddy goes to be with Jesus

Mom sent this email out to friends:

Time for a report from our family!

Because we have been friends over the years, I must send the message that Donald E. passed away on Saturday, June **, 20**. He had been fighting cancer for well over a year and in his own peaceful way, Don was called Home quietly and without pain, just as you might have pictured his passing. He was within a month of his 87th  birthday.  The family has gathered and the Memorial Service is pending.  

Olan Mills Portrait Studios

I am blessed to have shared 64 1/2 years of married bliss, 2 children and 6 grandchildren, plus 2 great granddaughters, with him.

Please pass this information along to any who knew him. Don treasured his friends and family until his days were done and he met his reward in Heaven, with Jesus.

Peace, Love, and Joy,

Marchi

and Don's entire family, gathered

***

Looking Above

"My Daddy can fix anything!"

It is said that we get our image of Creator God early in life from our own earthly fathers, and that we get our social styles from our mothers.

And so I have a deep, abiding faith that God can fix anything!

The most important thing my earthly father has given me is belief in a sovereign, loving God who never lets us go and never lets us down. He gifted me with an anchor in my soul, and for that I am (literally!) eternally grateful. When he graduates from this EarthSchool, it will be a sweet reminder to us all about the heritage we have from this most wonderful man.

Here's a chance to explore the life of Donald Elbert, my Daddy.

Blessings to all of you,
His daughter Susie

***