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skingsbery

Still Celebrating 16 Years Later

You chuckled at our celebrations,

at our June "birthday" cakes

realizing, I think,

we were the ones who needed to celebrate,

to acknowledge one more year

gifted

unpromised

miraculous.

"It was harder on you all than on me,

I just had to live through it,"

you would tell us.

Each anniversary of new life transplanted into your veins

an unnecessary reminder

the struggles were worth it.

Each day in the hospital,

each drive to therapy,

each tube feeding,

each home IV infusion.

Each holiday spent in a temporary apartment

or hospital room.

Each day in the chemo room.

Each day at the transplant clinic.

Each day you kept going,

meant years of memories to make.


2009

Welcoming your first grandchild

Gathering for a family reunion

Introducing S to your puppets


2010

Welcoming your second grandchild

A family Thanksgiving and touring DC

Celebrating 35 years of marriage



2011

Building a rock to roll away on Easter

Going to the mountains with your wife

Sharing puppets with E


2012

Training up new gardeners

Fingerpainting with your grandkids

Making Dutch Babies



2013

More trips to the park...

Including that big one in Florida

Passing along your cooking skills


2014

Watching me graduate seminary and be ordained

Watching your grandkids put on the puppet show this time

Going to Riverfront Zoo



2015

Renewing your wedding vows as part of FCC Charlotte's 100th anniversary

Moving me to Missouri


2016

Family reunion memories and mountain waterfalls


2017

Trips to a Missouri cave, the beach, Worlds of Puppetry, and General Assembly

Celebrating Day's retirement with time in Florida

Spending Fridays with Creative Mornings



2018

A decade later than planned, but finally the cruise you promised your wife

Welcoming your third grandchild


2019

A trip to see your mom in Florida

A mountain train ride for your birthday


2020

Saying good-bye to your mom

Keeping your wife company during lock down



2021

Building your Little Free Library

Joining online Bible studies from coast to coast


2022

Another couple's cruise

Trips with family to Sliding Rock and Disney


2023

Redoing the kitchen, the bedroom, the living room, all the things!!

Watching your grandkids dance and tumble

Celebrating your 70th birthday in Missouri

and Christmount's anniversary on your very own rocking chair

Hiking Crowders Mountain with E



15 years of borrowed time, of gifted time

Of miraculous time, of unexpected time.

14 years your doctor doubted we would get.

22 years of anxiety and worry and wonder

From diagnosis to transplant to the day time ran out.

Years and years that can't be reduced to numbers or pictures or lists.

Years and years of love, of hugs, of memories,

of volunteering and serving and giving back,

of flowers planted and gardens tended,

of books read and new things learned and taught,

of favorite meals cooked, crepes and muffins and popovers made

of projects done, hooks hung and home repairs competed,

of birthdays celebrated and holidays together,

of miles driven and new adventures had.


Your immune system doesn't get to celebrate Sweet 16,

but there will still be cake to celebrate

the day that gave us so much.




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