A story about my Dad

Loren and Sharon Parkhill
my Mom and Dad

I was adopted at birth by the most wonderful people you would ever want to know. They were Christians. The real ones who walked their faith every day.

In this post I wanted to share one of many stories about my hero.
I called him my dad.






I was probably in grade school, 4th or 5th grade maybe. Pop said "Danny Joe, get your shoes on and go with me" so on went the shoes and out the door we went. We got in the pickup truck and drove for what seemed like a really long time. I was really glad that dad and I got to spend the day together.
That wasn't at all unusual, see, we were a close family.

Driving down a country road Pop pulls into a driveway. There didn't seem to be anyone home but dad got some axes and chainsaws out of the back of the truck and walked around to the back yard. There, in the middle of the yard was a tree that had been blown down in a storm.
Pop said "come on Danny Joe, lets cut it up" so off we went!
He used the chainsaw and as he would cut, I would stack. I was on top of the world. I love being around my dad. We would take breaks and he would drink coffee and I drank water from the jug in the truck.

Pop like to work and he enjoyed doing things for other people. He was a coal miner and each summer , it seemed, the union would go on strike. While they were striking, Pop worked on a farm. He would take me  so I could ride in the cab of the tractor with him. I had really bad allergies so I would only ride until my eyes were so swollen I couldn't see very well, then Pop would call the farmer on the CB and have my mom come and take me home! I didn't care! Mom and Dad always made my sister and I priorities. We were important to them.

As we were finishing up the tree, I noticed Pop got very quiet and didn't smile much, like he had a lot on his mind.
We quietly finished and loaded the truck and left the wood, split and neatly stacked.
He was quiet most of the way home. Not mad, just quiet.

I asked who's house we had been to. He told me that it was the home of a man he worked with. The man had told him that he had a tree blown down in the back yard that needed to be cut down. He told me that he just decided to come over here and take care of it for him. I asked if the man knew we were going to do it. Pop smiled and said nope, this will be our little secret. He said "a few days ago his 2 sons were on their way home from college and were killed in a car accident." My dad said through his own tears " He is away burying his sons" "I love you very much Danny Joe" "I love you too pop."
 We drove the rest of the way home quietly.

Dad always knew instinctively how to love people. He never expected anything in return.
That day he did get something in return. A deeper love and respect from his son.
Dad went home to Jesus a few years ago and I really miss him.

Love you Pop!
Danny