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I can't think of a man more fitting to honor then my father. Not just because he was my father but more so for the kind of man he was.

Devoted faithful husband for 53 years , loving father, great fisherman, teacher, skilled artist and craftsman, jack of all trades who had a deep love for God . Just a few things that my father was.

Most importantly he was a father in the truest sense of the word. He had a fathers heart, and his first priority was the welfare of his children. He would show this in actions more then words, more times then I can remember he would always have a good word and a helping hand when we needed it the most.

My father's lasting legacy is the life he lived in the body God gave him. Nothing else matters in the end, because everything else will be left behind except what good we do while in the body God gave us. My father wasn't perfect but he was faithful and obedient to God's commandments. His life was blessed because of this faithfulness.

I praise God for giving me such an example that I can follow. I can say now looking back that I wished I was a better son but I can't say I wish I had a better father. I think I had the greatest father a son could ever have. I'll miss you Dad.

Love, your devoted son
Michael

With the warm weather right around the corner, what better way to spend a sunny afternoon then to take a walk in the park.

We especially enjoy this time of year, when the weather turns cool and the trees are bursting with color. I Hope you enjoy the pictures.

We were pleasantly surprised to come home from a long vacation and find that Ellie's room had been painted and decorated in what I can only describe as "Sunshine" colors, and what better colors for our Sunshine.  The project has been under discussion for months, but we never suspected that Lena's sisters Vera and Olga would finalize the design and implement the new look with their loving hands while we were gone!

 Thank you Olga and Vera for your beautiful work and making it special for our Ellie.

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As I reflect on my time visiting home I do so with deep emotion. About two weeks prior to our visit my dear Mother passed away. She passed away due to complications from pulmonary hypertension, a debiltating condition that literally takes your breath away little by little. (If you find it in your heart please donate to help find a cure for this disease)

We enjoyed our visit and delighted in the time we were able to spend with my family. We thank everybody for the time we had together and look forward to many more days ahead. God willing.

I wanted to dedicate this post to my Dear Mother. She loved all kinds of flowery plants and loved to display them around the house. Some of the flowers you will see were actually planted and cared for by my Mother. (as noted)

The beauty of this selection of flowers represents my Mother's beauty which was displayed by her caring and loving actions towards her family.

My Mother possesed the greatest gift of all, which is love. Her love for her family never failed and was there through the good and bad times.

I thought what is written in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is a fitting epitaph for my Mother.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoicce in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthins 13: 4-8

Thank you, Mom, for the love you have given me.

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How quickly life here passes on it's way;
You soon will reach the evening of your day.
Be therefore good and tender to each one
Who journeys with you till life's day is done

The hands that serve you, thankfully receive,
Ere enters death and bitterly you grieve
How quickly cometh that unbidden one;
Then it's too late to do what is not done

While beats the heart bound close to you in life
Of Mother, father, children, husband, wife--
O show them love ere they depart from you;
You know yourself what loving deeds can do.

The feet that tread life's pilgram way here too,
Should their oft stumbling be well known to you,
Then take good care not to forget at all
How often you yourself didst come to fall.

Fault-finding, causing other souls to grieve,
Is easy, but what do you thus achieve?
If you can't bear a soul just as he is,
Then your reward from God you'll surely miss.

How oft have you God's Holy Spirit grieved?
And yet His love so richly you've received!
The bonds of love keep strong in all you do;
Do unto others as God does to you.

   H.A. Tandberg

In loving memory of my Dear Mother Dorothy Galante. A woman with a kind and loving heart who lived her life by the golden rule. We love you and miss you Ma.