He is my hero! #11

This is my Dad, Gerard Winkel.  I met him about 62 1/2 years ago when I was first born to him and my mom. (No that's not my Mom in this picture, that's my Oma Romeyn at my wedding some 27 1/2 years ago). 

My Dad was my hero.  He was such a godly man. On the evening of July 15, 2006 we got a phone call that my Dad had passed away into the arms of Jesus. A place where he longed to be, a place that we all hope to go to.  David and I dropped our kids off at my friend Ingrid's place where they spent the night so that we could go and spend time with my Mom and sisters.  

I am so thankful that my kids were able to meet my Dad and spend time making memories with him.  Zachariah was born on my Dad's 62nd birthday.  I called my Dad in the wee hours of the morning (Zach was born at 3:27 a.m.) to tell him that I had a present for him....a grandson. 

Zach and my dad were inseparable. Even though we lived in Houston, we often got down to visit my family and if we were not visiting, we were on the phone with them.  Zach and Opa could talk and talk and talk.  Zach would wander around the house yapping and yapping, telling Opa this story and that and Opa would yap right back at him and then two of them were conversing. It was priceless.  When I was expecting our twins I had gone into early labour and was medevacked to Vancouver. David ended up bringing Zach down to my parents for them to look after him.  Zach and Opa just became even better buddies. Opa was a huge influence on Zach and often the two of them would be found together having their "Jesus talks."  As I would sit inside the house with the babies, looking out on these two having lunch, I would hear the odd "Pwaise de word" (Praise the Lord)  

Opa would have been so pleased with Zach when he picked Cassidy to be his wife.  I'm sure he was watching down from heaven during the celebrations.

In June 1999 my Dad became the very proud Opa to two little girls.  Rebekah Joy and Naomi Marie are the first and only grand daughters of my parents.  Right from the get go, Rebekah took a shining to Oma and Naomi took a shining to Opa.  Opa's nick name for Naomi was Opa's little woman.  Naomi could do nothing wrong in Opa's eyes.  When he and my Mom would stay for dinner,  I would make meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. My dad made what he called a "prukje" (everything mashed together with ketchup) to help Naomi eat. He would let her eat on her own but once he was done eating he would help her out...one bite for Naomi, two bites for Opa.  It was amazing how quick she finished her dinner. 

As the girls got older, Rebekah grew closer to Opa as well. She loved when Opa would come over and they would play games while listening to Disney tunes.  We have one little video of the kids and Opa "dancing" to one of the songs from Jungle Book.  They were all elephants following each other blowing their trunk trumpets.  I am so thrilled we have those videos with my Dad in them, that we can look back on so that we don't forget those special moments.

When my dad passed Zach was 8 and my girls had just turned 7.  That means they had 7 and 8 years of memories to cherish.  I thought that as time passed it would get easier without my Dad however as my children reach mile stones I realized all the things he was missing out on.  My Dad did not get to see my kids all graduate with honors from high school. My Dad did not get to see all my kids graduate from University. Rebekah graduating with her Masters and Zach and Cass almost done with their Masters.  My Dad did not get to see Zach find his sweetheart.  I know Zach really wanted my Dad to know he had met the right one.

Hey Dad....you are missed, very missed and there is never  a day in these 18 years that you have not been on my mind.  I love you!