Today we are at the Butch Taft Memorial Youth Rodeo. He's my Daddy. He was killed unexpectedly in January, and I still cry every day.
This is him roping on "Oregon"...and how he and mom bought him and brought him home with them in college is a story in and of itself. "Oregon" was my first barrel horse, too.
This is Daddy & I at my grandparents' house in Taft, Tenn. with one of their Tennessee Walking Horse studs.
In the late 1980s he and my mom started a rodeo stock contracting company. They continued the business and bred and raised their own bucking stock. Above is "Dirty Dave." Dave had adventures of his own at rodeos that are worth their own story some time. Dad is in the red plaid shirt to the far right behind the bucking chutes.
This is "Trigger" at the American Rodeo Finals. Dad is wearing the blue jacket behind the chutes. Trigger was also a bull that had many adventures and tall tales to tell in his own right, too.
This was one of his favorite bulls that he raised...."Silent Scope." He would have loved that after selling Scope, he is now back home on our farm. Dad is in the flag shirt in front of the chute.
And another of the bulls he was so proud to have raised..."Tigger." Dad is in the striped shirt to the left of the bull behind the chutes.
This is Sissy with her Papa at the circus when she was just two. He was so, so proud of my kids and loved them with everything he had.
He gave them each their first horse rides when they were just babies. Here he is with Bubby (about 6 months old)
And with Sissy at age 2...
This is Baby Boy with his Papa at the youth rodeo where we are today.
He was my hero. Always has been, always will be.
So pray for me today. Not that I don't think about him each and every day.
But because today is a reminder of a light extinguished too soon and the gaping hole that remains. Pray for strength. Pray for peace. And pray for understanding. Cause right now I'm running a little low on all three.
This is him roping on "Oregon"...and how he and mom bought him and brought him home with them in college is a story in and of itself. "Oregon" was my first barrel horse, too.
This is Daddy & I at my grandparents' house in Taft, Tenn. with one of their Tennessee Walking Horse studs.
In the late 1980s he and my mom started a rodeo stock contracting company. They continued the business and bred and raised their own bucking stock. Above is "Dirty Dave." Dave had adventures of his own at rodeos that are worth their own story some time. Dad is in the red plaid shirt to the far right behind the bucking chutes.
This is "Trigger" at the American Rodeo Finals. Dad is wearing the blue jacket behind the chutes. Trigger was also a bull that had many adventures and tall tales to tell in his own right, too.
This was one of his favorite bulls that he raised...."Silent Scope." He would have loved that after selling Scope, he is now back home on our farm. Dad is in the flag shirt in front of the chute.
And another of the bulls he was so proud to have raised..."Tigger." Dad is in the striped shirt to the left of the bull behind the chutes.
This is Sissy with her Papa at the circus when she was just two. He was so, so proud of my kids and loved them with everything he had.
He gave them each their first horse rides when they were just babies. Here he is with Bubby (about 6 months old)
And with Sissy at age 2...
He was my hero. Always has been, always will be.
So pray for me today. Not that I don't think about him each and every day.
But because today is a reminder of a light extinguished too soon and the gaping hole that remains. Pray for strength. Pray for peace. And pray for understanding. Cause right now I'm running a little low on all three.
Awww Jane, I am sorry to hear about your dad. I did not know this.
ReplyDeleteThis post is an amazing testiment to your love for your dad. Now I know where your kids get there rodeo talents.
Have a happy weekend.
Beautiful memories. Thank you for sharing your life and love with all of us. I will be praying for you today ... and I hope the rodeo goes well for you all!
ReplyDeletePrayers said! What a beautiful tribute to your father, but I can feel your tears as you put this together. May your broken heart find a way to mends itself a little more each day so that there will only be smiles and love left. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteAw, I agree - beautiful tribute. I cannot imagine what you must be feeling, but I know someday we'll all feel the same. Will say a prayer for you right now. :)
ReplyDeleteHUGS. It must be incredibly difficult. I love when you share about your dad. You can tell what a special bond you had with him.
ReplyDelete