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I'm back

I'm back. The Thanksgiving trip home actually became a very long and draining affair. The loss of my dad, Ronald Fuhrmann, makes it seem like life has started all over again. To all who commented in the previous post, or who replied by email - thank you. It is very comforting to be acknowledged in this time of loss.

I actually wrote a post last Saturday, but deleted it in an act of absent-mindedness. I didn't want to rewrite it, I was just too drained. I'm actually trying to start recreating it with this post. I've decided to dedicate this Advent season to writing about my family, my hometown, and growing up. It'll be pretty boring to many, but those who like to read about small-town America may find it interesting. I took lots of pictures, namely of all the churches I attended or visited, my schools, the two houses I lived in, the places where I worked (at least those that are still there), and some special things about the town and the country around it. I'll post many of those pictures too. And if I feel moved to comment on current events, I'll break that in too.

There is a strong kind of homesickness that I had never thought about till I went home - the first trip home where I would be staying in a hotel. Dad sold the house this last summer after he acknowledged needing extra help with living. All seven of us kids have moved all over the country, three in California, one in another part of Texas, one in Wisconsin, one in North Carolina, and one (me) in New Jersey. It was really strange not having the house on Ave D anymore. No kitchen to get a late night snack. No TV in the living room. No backyard with a dog. We spent most of the first week shuttling back and forth between our hotel and King's Manor, where Dad was being taken care of. I've got a lot more respect for the people who work in nursing homes. We were there a long time each day, and the work done in those homes is extremely demanding.

The sermon for Dad's memorial service was based on John 10, along with Psalm 121 and Philippians 4:4. With John 10 in mind, here's a picture of the stained glass I grew up with in the First United Methodist Church of Hereford Texas (click following link to view the picture)

I am the good shepherd

First United Methodist Church, Hereford Texas

The Nativity scene on the Deaf Smith County Courthouse

Posted by Joel Fuhrmann at December 7, 2004 08:38 PM