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DREAMY EYES
Contemporary Horse Oil Painting by Laurie Justus Pace

18 x 27 inches on Wrapped Canvas

Contact me for pricing: Laurie



I am still recovering from the trip to see my father. It was a beautiful drive in the country as we took a back route around the lakes, and we made it in record time despite my NOT driving fast.

He was ready when we arrived and begin lecturing us about "presence", and kept saying he didn't mean presents, but presence. For a man "with out" cognitive behavior I found this quite advanced. There are areas of his brain still firing out with reasoning. He was upset because he wanted my mother's presence in his life. He explained he was saying the word PRESENCE not presents. He never mentioned HOME, he only said, "I love you and we need to be together. I need your presence in my life." Needless to say Terry and I were still up at midnight last night (seven hours ago) discussing this. We took Dad out for lunch and he ate well. I thought a trip to Walmart (there are not many places to go in this small town) allowing him to walk around and have stimulation might be good. We picked up some pretzels for him, a 4th grade math book, the new John Grisham book, a folder for his mail, and a small notebook he could carry in his pocket and write things down on. He visited with children in baskets and moms telling them "You have a keeper there". Then we picked up candy and flowers for the nurses in his unit and last stop was Braums for a soft yogart ice cream cone. YUMMM. When we arrived back at his room, we discussed repeatedly what we had brought back for him and had him practice writing in the book and putting mail in his folder. We even did some math pages. He only faltered on a few, but was totally unable to do any sequencial at all. He was agitated when we left and it made for a thoughtful ride home already missing him. He has not lost his sense of humor.

The best things in life are free.... the love of God, the love of family, the safety of unconditional love, a smile, a hug, sharing time together, breaking bread together, holding hands... the list could go on just about forever.

If your dad is still alive, call him and tell him how much you love and appreciate all he has taught you in life...even if he wasn't the best dad, what ever you have been through in your life, the journey, has made you the person you are today. There are not many visits I have left that my dad will even know me. Right now he does not even know my name, but he knows I am someone that loves him and that I belong to him.

You may not know God, but God knows you belong to him. The "presence" of the Father in your life is the greatest "present" you will ever receive, and it is free. Remember, the best things in life are free.

Grace,
Laurie

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”Romans 15:7

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