Tonight while sitting at dinner with my family I had an overwhelming flashback to days with my Dad.
For as long as I can remember - all the way back to Fresno - my Dad was in some kind of building "program." In Fresno, he built a new church. In Rialto, he built (almost literally himself along with my grandfather) another church. When we moved to Mesquite, we built a house then he built another church. THIS has been my life. Always building, always improving, always moving forward. I never knew anything different. We would be sitting at dinner, Daddy would pull out a napkin and a pen then start drawing his next set of "plans." Whether it was something to remodel or another church to build, he was always thinking ahead.
My life didn't change much when I married Gene Holley!!! If I remember correctly, the first large building project after we were married was the remodeling of Life Tabernacle. Then Gene and his Dad (along with Todd Shahan) built a house at Possum Kingdom Lake. We built two houses in Wichita Falls before we moved to Pflugerville. While in Pflugerville, Gene remodeled 2 "warehouses" - the first one was for the sanctuary, the second for the youth center. We had just finished the youth center before moving back to Wichita Falls. Now that we are here, Gene and his Dad started working on the remodeling of his office today and more plans are in the making - other remodeling in the current location, a Family Life Center, etc.
Back to the Déja Vu... While sitting at dinner, Gene started describing something to me then asked for a pen. I gave him one and watched as he straightened his napkin and started drawing me a diagram. I just put my head in my hands and started to laugh incredulously. This was almost an exact replica of my Dad!!!
I LOVE it!!!! I LOVE being married to this man who is always thinking "forward" and wanting to see what else he can "build." It's a good life...
10 comments:
Karla, I love it!!! It is scary, but wonderful, when we "relive" a happening that happened in another generation. I can see your dad (and Gene) doing that. We saw the church he built in Rialto. He was a dreamer. Keep casting those visions, Gene. We love yall... So glad God is blessing you in Wichita Falls!
What is it with the napkin? My dad is a "Napkin Architect" too!! Except ours was always an improvement to the funeral home, or the house. I do the same, in a sense, a bit more "high-tech" though. I do my doodling on the computer. The lines are straighter that way....LOL!
VISION!!! Building for the future I love it! Bro Layne was an awesome man of God and defintly had VISION I am happy his spirit of VISION is in our PASTOR! You know there is an old saying that says when you marry it is usually a man much like your father! I believe this Todd does sooo many things just like my dad....even talking like Donald Duck LOL :)
lol! I wish I had saved all the napkins that Nathan drew on before we built the church in Texarkana. It would be quite a pile. Can you imagine if we had all the napkins Daddy drew churches and houses on? I think we could fill up a room. Keep dreaming Gene! I love it!
We still draw on napkins. It's just a great way to help someone visualize the vision that you have in your head. That's awesome.
Being your husband's visions, you might want to use paper tablecloths so he can do several "plans" at one sitting. lol Love hearing of our men of God having vision.
Karla, I got tickled thinking about Daddy, the far away look in his eye, Mother saying "Murray where are you at?", and him then saying, "Just thinking about building that new church!" He knew Mother wouldn't see it unless he "drew it"! LOL! So, grabbing a pen and a napkin he would explain his vision to Mother or whoever was sitting there. Thanks for the Deja Vu tonight! It brought back many, happy, and exciting memories! Now, we know who to call "Murray"!!! LOL!
This is too funny! I have seen Keith do the same thing.
I'm thinking it's a 'man' thing! I grew up watching my dad draw on napkins. After he passed away and I married Kent, his dad drew so many houses and churches on napkins. Now Kent sketches on napkins, too! I guess before long I will witness Trent doing the same thing. Thanks for helping me remember my heritage, too! Keep us posted on all the plans. Maybe shoot some pics of the napkin drawings! ha
Oh, my goodness!! Would you believe Harden does the same thing?! As a machinist, everything has to be exact, soooo he explains the parts he's repairing on a napkin. Isn't life funny?!
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