Dad wears this tie tack almost every Sunday. J.E.W. My grandpas initials. James Ebra Wilson. He gets a lot of questions about it, which I love hearing my Dad respond with “Its my fathers initials.” Im not sure about the story behind the tie tack but I know that my Dad wears it with pride every sunday.
The past couple of weeks I have had the overwhelming feeling of going to Grandpa’s grave. Deric and I first went to see it back in November. It was the very first time I had ever been there, and I think the 1st time in a good 20 years that ANYONE has been there. I am very sad to say that I didn’t listen to those promptings to go up there. I so should have listened. I finally called my mom today and asked her when Grandpa Wilsons birthday and death day were. They were last week. That is why I got the prompting that I needed to go visit. James Ebra Wilson was born on July 1st 1898. and died on July 6th 1952. Those dates were both last week.
Growing up I always wanted to know more about my Dads parents, my grandparents. I loved hearing my Dad talk about Grandpa and what a hard working man he was. I loved seeing old movies on the family room wall of Grandpa standing there helping my dad as a 2 or 3 year old boy get on a horse or seeing grandpa feeding an animal. He was a SUPER tall handsome man. I have always wondered what it would be like to have both Grandpa and Grandma Wilson alive today. What would they be like? Would I make them proud? Those are questions that I still ask my self. I know for a fact that I will see both of them again someday and that I will get to hug them and ask them those questions. and that I can tell my Grandpa that I am so sorry for not visiting his grave more often when I do live so close. I am excited and look forward to the day when I can throw my arms around them and tell them how much I love them.
My dad was 5 years old when grandpa died. I am sure that my grandpa is very proud of the man that my dad turned out to be. Dad has lived a hard life. But turned everything into something positive and moved on with his life in amazing way. I have the best example of a father. Nothing has kept him from his goals and aspirations. and heck raising 8 kids for 40 years that is one HUGE accomplishment. My best memories of dad is when he used to take me outside and play catch with me and practice on my form and teach me how to hit a ball farther and harder. or when he would go on bike rides with me, or going for Sunday drives up in the saltese flats to count the deer. Or sitting outside under the awning of the roof so we wouldn’t get wet during a really good thunder and lightning storm. or play all kinds of card games. or going for hikes up in Liberty Lake and making it ALL THE WAY to the falls, so that we could walk over the water on the fallen log. My dad is the hardest working man I know. He is up by 4:30 every morning, goes to work and comes home around 5 and out working on his “salsa" garden. Making sure there are NO weeds or bugs ruining his plants. He is amazingly crafty with metal and can make amazing trucks and buses and 18 wheelers out of scrap metal just by looking at a picture. He never ceases to amaze me. Yes we have had our many disagreements but he is the most amazing man. Thank you for joining the church Dad and for raising me in the Gospel and not giving up on me!!! I love you for it!
Daddy Daughter Dance
Dads 4 girls!
