Morris Family Party of Five

Thankfully Heather and Christy stayed late after I wrapped up book club to catch up.  The subject of dogs came up and I confessed how much I still missed Teddy.  The companionship of a dog, especially all the time I spent alone working from home, I longed for but wasn’t sure I was ready.  Lewis had started to consistently ask for another dog and even recently told me “mama it will help you not miss Teddy.”  I explained a few barriers for just getting a dog were Lewis’ newly discovered allergies, cost of a non-shedding dog, stress of training a new puppy, etc.  They both shared that they cannot imagine their home without their dogs and the comfort they bring in difficult times. I joked that I wanted a female dog and then I wouldn’t be outnumbered, and I already had a name picked out - Dolly.  Both Heather and Christy suggested I look online for “designer rescues” and they would be praying about it for me. 

After that conversation, I had the desire for a dog weighing heavier on my heart.  I woke up the next morning to take Lewis on a field trip and a text from Heather popped up.  It was a screen shot of a Facebook post where an owner was looking to re-home her two dogs.  The dogs were precious, but I immediately shut it down.  I text Heather that I couldn’t do two dogs and what did we know about the breed and why were they giving them away.  Heather did a soft sell reminding me that two means they would always have a playmate and I wouldn’t have to feel bad about leaving them.  Then another text pops up from Christy with the same information on the dogs.  I told her the same spill I told Heather. 

The entire field trip I couldn’t help but think of the dogs.  I looked at their picture a few more times.  Field trip was finished, and Lewis and I were eating lunch when my mom called about the dogs.  She had seen the post too.  I told her I was, this late in the day, that the dogs were already spoken for.  I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a God wink since Heather, Christy and I just had this conversation the day before and decided to Facebook message the women who posted about them.  I told myself not to get my hopes up, but my heart started pounding with excitement when she responded that we should talk as she was still deciding on a home for them.

She called me right away and shared that they were non-shedding dogs.  Gigi was the smallest weighing seven and a half pounds and Lola weighed twenty-two pounds.  They were from the same litter and hypoallergenic.  They didn’t shed it all as the breed was a double doodle.  The women assured me they were loving and amazing dogs but her family of five just didn’t’ have the time to devote to them and they also had two cats.  She was honest that the cats are much more independent and self-sufficient than the dogs.  I shared my story of the loss of Teddy and discovering Lewis’ had allergies which kept us from being able to just go get a dog from the shelter.  I was also honest that money was a factor as we just didn’t have it in our budget to pay big money for a dog currently.  The mom said “These dogs are free.  We just want to ensure they go to a loving home.  And one of your friends private messaged me that your home would be a great choice and several people tagged you on the Facebook post I made.”  I had not been on Facebook to even see it but apparently my friend Elizabeth, Christy and Tammy had made a case for me to have the dogs too. 

The dog owner needed to talk to her family to ensure they were comfortable giving the dogs away.  And I also needed to talk to my husband and Lewis to see what their feelings were about the dog.  We agreed to just stay in touch.

Shortly after the call with the dog owner, my mom sent a screen shot with information about the double doodle breed.  The actual name of the breed was called Dolly Double Doodles.  I just couldn’t believe it!  I had just said to my friends that I wanted a dog named Dolly.  And while it wasn’t one of the dog’s actual names, the fact Dolly was the breed gave me chills.  I was so anxious now to talk to my husband because it just really seemed like God meant for our family to have these dogs.

My friend Julie called right before I had to pick up Lewis to see if I had seen the post about the dogs.  I had friends, all around me, thinking these dogs were a fit.  Julie then asked a question I hadn’t thought about – would my landlord allow us to have dogs in the house?  Yikes I hadn’t even thought of this and thankful Julie sad something at the same time my heart sank as we just renewed our lease and I wasn’t sure they would allow it.  I text the dog owner to let her know I would need to find out if we could even have the dogs before it went any further and we both agreed to pray about what was best.

I talked with my husband as soon as I could and shared the story of how this all transpired starting with my conversation the day before with Heather and Christy.  He agreed this could be a God wink but didn’t want me to get my hopes up until we heard from the landlord.  My landlord was amazing and said she would make a case to the actual homeowner but felt it was best if I emailed the owner my story directly.  As I was typing my story to the owner of our home, I received a message back from the dog owner that her family would be happy to share Gig and Lola with our family.  Now to just hear back from the landlord.  That wait seemed like forever.

Right before I had to put Lewis to bed, I got the text that the landlord had approval from the homeowner for us to have the dogs.  Because of the timing, my husband and I were able to discuss it with Lewis.  I explained that there were two dogs in need of a home that could give them a lot of love, time and attention.  When I showed Lewis the picture, I knew by the happy on his face that Gigi and Lola would be our dogs.

We had a playdate with the dogs before I had to leave to head out of town for work.  The playdate went perfectly, and Lewis was in love – we all were!  We agreed to bring them permanently to their new home when I got back to town.  I got them all settled in late afternoon and surprised Lewis when I picked him up from school.  We had a wonderful evening getting their things all set up.  At bedtime, we had their crate in our room and went to put them both in their crate to sleep.  But the sweet look on their faces melted our hearts and into the bed they both went. 

In less than 24 hours, God worked it out for our home to have the love and affection of a dog(s) again.  I am so thankful for praying friends who saw the Facebook post (Heather and Christy), the friends who cheered for us when we didn’t even know (Elizabeth and Tammy), and my mom for discovering they were “Dolly’s”.  And I will also always be grateful to the family who let us love the dogs allowing them to get the time and attention they needed.  In a week’s time God took our little family of three to a joy filled Morris Family of Five!

70 Years in the Making

Humble Beginnings

“No, I will just wait until the hot water comes back on,” he said.  We shouldn’t have been surprised by this considering he spent most of his early years getting a bath in a wash tub on the porch.  The water was heated on the stove and by the time it reached the wash tub, it was chilly.  His family grew up poor-  very poor.  For Christmas they had handmade stockings that were filled with fruit, if that.  There was never any money for presents.  They got one new pair of shoes at the beginning of every school year, regardless of the shape they ended up in.  The house had cracks where the sun would peak through as well as the cold.  Running water and electricity were not luxuries that were had in his kid’s younger years.  One of six kids and the oldest boy, Danny remembers picking cotton for a penny a pound and until his fingers would bleed. 

He learned early the importance of working hard in those cotton fields especially following the death of his daddy.  He was just nine years old when all the children were called to his dad’s bedside.  Daniel (his dad) had gone blind as a result of a stroke and the prognosis wasn’t good.  As his dad passed, daddy said “I knew that I was now the man of the house and had to help provide.”  As a result of feeling responsible, all he wanted to do was work.  He had no interest in school and although his mama tried her best to change his mind, he felt he could do more for his family with his hands.  The minute he could drop out and earn a living, that’s exactly what he did. 

The death of his daddy took a tool on his mama.  She was never the same after that, but then how could she be?!  She didn’t have much and was left to raise six children by herself.  The grief sent her into early menopause and Alzheimer’s quickly followed.  By the time daddy had turned twenty-four, he had already buried his mama too.

Semper Fi

Limited education and the draft happening all around, daddy volunteered to enter the military.  When asked why he chose the Marine Corps, daddy said, “I wanted to be the best.  The ones they put on the front lines.”  The Marines was a perfect fit for him.  Any imperfection they saw, they would work it out of you.  For example, he had acne and they gave him a skin regimen of scrubbing his face with rubbing alcohol.  He said, “it burned like the devil, but my acne was gone.” Daddy became an ideal cadet for the Marines and played ball but what he really wanted was to serve his country in war.  He would ask when his squadron would get deployed, but his lieutenant would always request for daddy and another Marine buddy to be held back.  The lieutenant told him they were grooming him for bigger things and his work, where he was stationed, was important.  To this day, I think daddy wishes he could’ve served his country in war.  But I believe God knew better than to send him to war, because as a scout, he would have most likely never made it back. 

Daddy’s desire was to make a career out of the military.  They worked him hard and working hard was the core of who he was.  One of the greatest values he carried, in part because of all the loss he experienced at such a young age and in part because of the Marines, was tested while serving in the Corps.  He was needed back home to help someone he deeply cared about, so he did what he thought was the honorable thing and went back home.  He always put family first even if it meant giving up his dream of being a career Marine.  The Marines never left him though and aided in shaping the man he is today.

A Strong Provider

 Daddy was the ideal employee.  He was never late, worked hard and would have to be sick or injured to miss even a day of work.  He was good with his hands, could fix almost anything and mechanic work was a natural fit.  Ryder Truck Rental worked my daddy to the bone.  But it provided all of what the family needed and most of what we wanted. 

“I wanted to make sure I could give my kids all the things I never had growing up, “Danny said.  He and my mama always came through. Every birthday, Christmas and vacation were more than we deserved.  Daddy would volunteer to take call or work overtime to ensure we never missed out.  John never missed out on a band trip or buying an instrument and I never missed out on the latest pair of Guess jeans. 

Beyond working to provide for his family, he was also the family and friend mechanic. It didn’t matter how many hours he worked or how tired he was, if someone asked him to check out their vehicle, daddy always helped. There was almost always some extra car in our driveway that he was looking at or working on. 

Those years of being everyone’s mechanic took a toll on his body.  After thirty-seven and a half years, he finally retired from Ryder Truck Rental.  On his last day, we watched him clock out and we exited Ryder as a family.  I remember feeling such pride on his retirement day.  I admired his work ethic and loyalty.  I admired all he had sacrificed for us.  There were numerous times over those thirty-seven years he had turned down promotions because they would require him to move.  He knew we didn’t’ want to move and leave close friends so he stayed the course at Ryder. 

Even in retirement, he is still known as the Mr. Fix It in the family.  My husband jokes that he can smell when a light bulb goes out.  If something at our house breaks or tears up, Lewis will say “mama we better call Papa because he can fix it.” 

Getting Right with God

Daddy and God weren’t always tight.  He was scared into being saved as a young boy.  He recalls a preacher screaming to him and a group of boys that “they better get right with God or they would burn in hell.”  It was not an earnest connection with the Lord but rather a decision made solely out of fear to be baptized.  Then as he got older, I think he probably was a little mad at God.  He experienced a hard road as a child and a significant loss and held resentment. 

We never gave up on him getting that deep connection with God especially mama.  I landed one of the lead roles in the children’s Christmas play, A Little Christmas Lamb, and asked daddy to please come.  He came to watch, and I saw his heart start to soften.  He came for the Christmas play and kept on coming.  He joined in on Sunday school and church fellowships.  He had to miss most Wednesday nights due to work but on Sundays, he was faithful.  About a year and a half after that initial visit, he was saved. About a year after he was saved, he stood in front of our congregation and gave his testimony.  I was in awe that this quiet and very private man had the courage to share the gospel so boldly.  But courageous was something daddy always was and really, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

A Man of Character

Having cared for his family starting at just nine years old, daddy is a caregiver by nature.  He has spent a great deal of his retirement taking care of others.  He was a caregiver for an elderly gentleman with no family until he passed.  He has helped take family friends to various doctor’s appointments or would just go visit and sit with them.  He’s helped move my brother and I multiple times complete with unpacking, organizing, hanging pictures or whatever was needed.  Any time there is any kind of crisis, he is the calm and steady.

Daddy still opens doors for my mom.  He will give up a seat for a woman or small child.  He removes his hat when he walks in a room.  His manners are impeccable.  He greets everyone he meets with a smile.  He calls his sister every week and checks in on his other sister who has Alzheimer’s.  On any given Sunday, you may find him rocking on his screened in porch talking on the phone to his best friend.  They have been best friends since he was fifteen and talk every week.

He still does all his own yard work. He keeps their car pristine.  He shares housekeeping duties with my mama, and nothing is out of place.  Daddy has shared many times that “I never had things this nice growing up and never dreamed I would, so I plan to take care of what I have.” 

If you are wearing a military hat or uniform, daddy will thank you for your service. If he greets you, it will always be with a big smile.  He has become quite the talker and jokester as he ages.  And if you ever see him playing with his grandson, you will know how joyful he really is. 

Daddy has never been a man that needs or requires much to be happy.  He wants my mama by his side.  A chair that rocks.  A nice view of the mountains.  A potato as a side with his meal (potato chips or fries will do and even with pizza).  An Alabama football win.  A cold beer and boiled peanuts once and awhile.  And his children and grandchildren happy, healthy and safe.

My daddy is salt of the earth good.  He is self-made.  His life could have taken a very different path but his past, his loss and his pain did not define him.  He decided he would be the better man. 

I hope on his 70^th birthday today, he will celebrate every one of these seventy years, even the hard ones.  All these years made him who he is – a caregiver, a provider, a working man, a soldier, a husband, a father, a friend.  And I couldn’t be prouder to be his daughter!

Happy 70^th Birthday Daddy!  You are good stuff!