HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Hop on over to Kelli's House to sign up on Mr. Linky for today's Show and Tell!
I know! I know! The last two times that I've participated in Show and Tell, I have used a person rather than an interesting thing or object! But today is my daddy's 71st birthday, so please oblige me to show off one more person this Friday! Thanks, you all are so kind!

I have so much that I would love to tell you about my dear dad, but it would be too long! I know you have other Show and Tells to visit today! So let me just say a few things to try and help you all get to know him a little bit.

First and foremost, I need you all to know that my dad is a very godly man. He is a quiet natured guy who goes with the flow as long as it isn't something displeasing to His Lord. He isn't one that insists on having his own way. He has been described as a most humble man. Fellow pastors talk about dad's wisdom and how they wish they could be more like him. He would best be described as a Mr. Steady-ALL THE WAY!! (Read Debi Pearl's book, "Created To Be His Helpmeet" if you don't know what I mean by Mr. Steady!)

71 years ago, today, my dad was born in the mountains of West Virginia to a farming family. Dad's dad also worked as a blacksmith and my father has many wonderful childhood memories of hanging around the smithy. My grandfather also was an Old Regular Baptist Preacher, 2nd generation. My dad grew up in the country, mountains to be exact, near the Hatfield's and McCoy's; two families who have gone down in history for their ferocious feuding! One night his dad let a Hatfield spend the night with them as he was hiding from a McCoy! How cool is that?!?

Dad had worked hard helping work on the family farm. As an adult, dad learned to drive a coal truck. Those were the days when coal mines were booming up in the head of the hollers of W.Va. Later, when the mining was slowing down, dad and mom decided to do what my uncle and some of their friends had done --move to California to work in the saw mills. Dad knows the Lord was in that move, because California is where a loving Pastor visited him on visitation one rainy Tuesday evening and lead him to Christ. Sadly, even though my dad was raised in a preacher's home, he had never accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.

It wasn't long after his salvation and growing quickly in the knowledge and grace of his Savior, that dad felt called to preach. It was prayed about and decided he would attend Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. While in Bible School, dad felt the call of God upon his life to be a missionary. After much prayer, we were hitting the road and churches of like faith and doctrine presenting our slides for the field of Australia. As the time came for VISAS, the door to Australia was closed for missionaries. Only teachers and tourists could get in. The Lord never leaves his child hanging though. He is faithful. Dad remembered a small town in Florida we spent a little time in during deputation travels. The town had no solid independent Baptist church in it. God laid that small cow town on dad's heart as a needy place to plant a church. So off to Arcadia, Fl we moved. After starting what is now Heritage Baptist Church in Arcadia, the Lord moved me to Mexico and my parents to Logan, W. V. where dad planted another new church. It is still going strong today, the last I heard. There is so much more to my dad's life, but this is already getting too long.

Today, we are so thrilled Dad is still with us! He had his 3rd heart attack back in the first part of April and underwent triple bypass surgery a few days later. Only 8 years prior, dad had 5 bypasses done in an emergency open heart surgery. This last surgery was some easier on us, as we had time to prepare and call family. Dad also had a heart attack back in the 70'2 while pastoring a little church in Arcadia, Florida. Dad also suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, along with his heart issues. I'm proud to say that my dad keeps marching on, serving God, shepherding his flock. My mother has had many major health issues. We see how Satan tried to deter and distract from the ministry through all the hardships, but thankfully, my parents remained faithful, and still to this day they serve in the pastorate of Smyrna Baptist Church, Tampa, FL. I think my dad's forte in ministry is helping folks heal from the loss of a loved one or some huge hurt. He is great at officiating funerals and comforting whomever needs it.

I was Instant Messaging with dad tonight and when I wished him a happy birthday, he started sharing with me some facts concerning his birth. He was born at 1 p.m. His Grandma Riffe and Aunt Mary England were the midwives for his birth. He was born at home. (My niece Jackie will be glad to know that. Of course, back then, I think most babies were born at home)

Now I know most of you have seen many of these photos before, but I do have some newer readers of my humble, little blog. I'd like them to get to know my dad better. I have also included some photos here which may only interest my sister in Venezuela and my niece in Paraguay. I considered emailing certain photos to them privately but then decided it was fine to just post them here. I regret I don't have any photos of my father when he was younger. I need to get to his home and dig some up to scan! I leave you now so that you may get to know my dad a little more.Dad and Mom

Christmas Eve, 2006

Dad in the blue shirt at a family dinner at ...GUESS WHERE? Leave your guess as to which restaurant this is in my comment section! August, 2006


Dad with my son Josh after Josh preached in the church dad pastors. June, 2006

Dad poses with Shane and Grandma!

Dad at head of table in red shirt, family dinner, December 2006

Dad receives a lighthouse ornament from his sister Tommie, visiting from Indiana.

December, 2006

Shane LOVES giving Grandpa his shot for diabetes! He always asks his Grandpa,"Hey, is it time for me to make you cry like a baby?" It's so cute to watch Shane go to dad's desk, get out the kit, prick dad's finger, record his blood sugar levels on the little chart, then give him this injection! I think he could be a doctor when he grows up.

Dad and Mom in the 2 Josh's college dorm room. Josh V. took the top bunk. My Josh took the bottom one. September, 2005

Dad, Mom, Josh R. Christmas 2004

The very next day after dad's open heart surgery. April, 2007

After about two weeks home, recuperating, these lovely flowers arrived from his sister Donna and her son Ron.! They were even more lovely in person. I 'm so happy I happened to be there when they arrived so I could snap this picture for the senders to see the beauty of the arrangement.

Another shot of the pretty flowers.

Me with Dad about two weeks after his surgery. I just realized he had his hands behind his back for his typical pose! His mother, my Granny Susie, used to do the same pose! LOL

He actually seemed proud to show off his scar! The surgeon used the old scar from dad's previous bypass surgery. This was taken 2 weeks after the surgery. Poor thing!

Dad with Shane, two weeks after the open heart surgery.

Rita, this is one of the two small incisions made on his right leg. Much better than his surgery 8 years ago huh? Remember they sliced his leg from top to bottom! Of course, it was an emergency then as ALL arteries were blocked! They had to get that extra vein out quick.

Dad and Mom in the midst of the Rios and Leonard families. Christmas Eve, 2006

Dad with his only two surviving siblings, Aunt Tommie and Aunt Donna! December, 2006

(His rosacia was really bad this day. Sorry dad, but I had to post this with your sissies.)

My dad is an avid ROOK player. Here he is with his back toward us playing with Agustin, Shawn, and Cory. Just a week or so before his heart attack!

As I said earlier, there is so much more I could write about and I really wish I had some photos of dad as a child and younger adult. I'll get right on that!

I'd like to invite anyone who feels they have time today to send my dad a Happy Birthday via his email. His addy is:

pastorriffe@aol.com

Have a blessed weekend my friends!