Today is a bittersweet day as we remember Rowland’s dad who moved from this life to the next on this day four years ago. Since moving to Colorado, there have been so many times that Rowland has re-lived places his dad visited and loved. For many years, Bill spent every Summer here, and being here as made Rowland feel especially close to him. Rowland’s brother Graham, sister Marci, and step-mother Cydney have all been here within the past couple of weeks, and he had some wonderful talks with Graham about their dad.

Bill and I didn’t have an easy path in the beginning, but I grew to love him as I watched him love my children. He had a good sense of humor and was fun to tease with. Of course, most people knew him as a true God-follower, a man who devoted his life to pouring into other men for the Kingdom. Our kids just knew him as “Papa” and still talk about missing him even though they were young when he died. Unfortunately, he never got to meet Jia, but I know that he would have loved her giggles!

Most of all, I see so many wonderful characteristics in my husband that I know were instilled in him from an early age. Rowland is a hard worker. He would do whatever it took to support his family. Rowland is a God-follower who has not “arrived,” but loves the journey itself! He is a man of high integrity, true to his word, faithful to his family and his God. He is also a strong, intelligent man with a great business sense like his father. If Bill were alive now, I know that he would be proud of the man Rowland has become, the devoted father and amazing husband.

Today, we celebrate a great man’s life and the legacy he has left for us all! If you are a pray-er, please keep Rowland in your prayers today as it is a truly bittersweet day spent in the beautiful Colorado mountains alone with his cigar, his lab, and his precious memories!