Celebrating the Father I Never Knew

I have wanted for some time to share my testimony on this blog with all of you. I have lots to say but I am just not quite sure how to put it all down. With Father's Day here, I decided to share a little from my heart about my testimony and a few things which are dear to me. I would not consider myself a completely closed person who can not at all share secrets or  problems openly with friends, but I often find it difficult to open up and "pour my heart out" as they say. God has used so many things in my life to teach me to take it to Him and Him alone and I am thankful that He never fails to comfort me and keep me in times of trial and turmoil. So, without any further babbling, here is how my story began.

July 20, 1972

A date that would be remembered as the day my earthly father's life was taken at the young age of thirty-two. Curtis Eugene Justice was killed in an automobile accident when his car was hit by a drunk driver. 

He left behind many relatives including my sister who was eleven years old at the time and my mother who was in her ninth month of pregnancy, anxiously awaiting my arrival in about two weeks.

My Dad's headstone, designed by my mother who is now buried beside his body.

I don't know many details about my father's death. I find out little pieces of details each time I return to West Virginia to visit with family on furlough. I want to know more about him but I often wish it wasn't second hand information.

As a baby, my first word was "Da Da", 

despite Mom and sister trying their best to teach me to say "Ma Ma."

As a young child, I remember my mom showing me the register from his funeral. Her telling me how there were so many people who came to pay their respects because everybody loved my Dad. I saw the car keys she had taped into the memory book, read the obituary that gave the names of the two men who were in the other vehicle that hit his vehicle, and looked over the many photos she kept in a shoe box of the man she loved. I don't remember exactly when Mom told me about Dad's accident but I do remember her explaining his death as someone once told her, that God only chooses the prettiest roses for His rose garden in Heaven.

I was bashful as a child and remember hiding behind my mother as people in stores would ask if it was me, Dee Dee, the daughter she was expecting when Dad died. Most of the time at that point, they would ask me to show them my thumbs. I have distinct thumbs just like my Dad. Then they would say, "Yep, that's Eugene's girl," which would always make me smile.

Later in life, my uncle would make a video of a birthday party held in the basement of a church where Mom, Dad, and my sister were present. I would watch that video over and over again enjoying seeing my mother so happy, my sister bouncing around as a small child, smiling, and my Dad captured on film for brief moments as he sat and ate a piece of birthday cake.

That same uncle copied several photos of my Dad and gave them to me. I keep them in a special album and show them to our Russian friends.

My Dad (smallest) with his siblings.

My Dad with his older sister.

My Dad (far right) with some friends.

Dad on the bike.

When we first arrived in Krasnoyarsk to begin studying the Russian language back in 1999, we met a young girl named Katya. Katya was in the youth group of the Krasnoyarsk Baptist Church where we would begin working and assisting in the ministry. Katya was an amazing girl with a great personality and enough talent for three people. Drawing was just one of the things she could do very well. I began to realize her drawing talent when I saw several pencil drawing she had done for other Americans. They had given her a photograph and she drew them exactly as they were pictured. They were amazing! The thought came to me about having her do one for me as well. 

You see, I had always been told I looked like my Dad, yet we were never able to be photographed together. I loved looking at the photos of my sister with Dad as she was growing up.

 I had always dreamed of seeing us together in a photograph. 

Katya made it possible. 

She took my Senior college portrait and Dad's high school Senior portrait and drew us side by side. 

Here is the result...

This is and will be one of my most prized possessions. If you could see it in person, it is so life-like. Well, at least Dad's part. Katya told me she really didn't like my hair and teeth! Ha! She said she worked and worked on them to get them right and she wasn't completely happy with the results. But, I love it!

So, I have one part of my dream fulfilled. I have a "photo" of Dad and I together. 

Now, to spend time with him getting to know him. 

Both Dad and I accepted Christ as our Savior. 

So, as God's Word promises, we will spend eternity together in Heaven! 

What a great day that will be to be reunited with our loved ones who have gone on before us! 

For now, he and my Mom are enjoying their time together,

 as she passed away a little more than two years ago.

I am so thankful my kids have a Daddy to raise them! 

We love you, David and are so thankful for the precious moments we have together with you!

My husband, David, with our daugther, Beka on his first Father's Day. (1998)

If you still have a Daddy or a Mommy living, be thankful for them. 

Treasure each and every moment you can spend with them.

Tell them you love them today. 

Some of us never had the chance.