Sunday, June 21, 2015

Birch Trees for Father's Day

In last month's newsletter from Taylored Expressions, the design team created cards for Father's Day along with photos and a brief shout-out to our fathers.  Although my father died when I was quite young, I still have vivid memories.  Here's my dad in the 1970s.


This picture was downloaded from the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame website with this little blurb.
1949 McLaughlin HS grad. 1953 Huron College grad. He coached Huron High's basketball team to an unbeaten season in 1958. He became a coach at Rapid City Central in 1962. In 1969, he became Rapid City Stevens' first activities director, a position he held until his death in 1977 at age 45. In eight seasons as basketball coach at Huron and Rapid City, his teams were 195-62. At Huron, he was an NAIA Little All-American in football in 1952, and he also was a standout in basketball. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1966.
Obviously, athletics were an important part of his life.  The story goes that he was drafted by the NFL  in the 60s but decided he could make more money as a teacher!!  

At the time of his death, he was the high school principal at Stevens High School in Rapid City, South Dakota.  In his honor, the town renamed the gym after him. This is my son in front of his grandfather's gym.


I have scrapbooks of letters from people honoring and remembering him.  Some came decades after his death, with people just wanting to let us know what a profound impact he had had on their lives. He was a sincere and very caring man and had an impact on all who knew him.  

My memories are of small moments - yet they are vivid memories.  We spent a lot of time out in the Black Hills of South Dakota - long hikes and camping.  I have raised my children in the same way.  I remember his booming laugh.  He had an amazing ability to laugh at himself.  I remember one time we were hiking with my grandmother and we got to a stream that was a little too big to jump across.  My dad found an old log and struggled for a long time to drag it to the stream.  He propped it up and let it go to fall across to give us a footbridge, but when it dropped the entire log shattered.  He sat down on the ground and laughed until he cried.  

His love of the outdoors is why when Taylored Expressions wanted to do a tribute to our fathers, I went right for the stunning Birch Tree dies.  Although there wasn't a deer looking at us as my father sat and laughed at himself, the feel of this card represents my memories - beautiful, peaceful, and a little misty.

Birch Trees by Kim Singdahlsen

I love you Dad!

SUPPLY LIST

The patterned paper is from the We R Memory Keepers Free Spirit 12x12 paper pad.  I found a section that looked like a distant mountain scene! As I was writing this, you could find this paper at places like Createforless and there were even a few pads available on Amazon.  The birch trees are done in a confetti white cardstock but I don't remember what brand it is.

8 comments:

  1. simply a gorgeous card Kim - beautiful soft colors - wonderful design - love it!

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  2. This needs to be framed. For sure.

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  3. Kim,
    What a lovely tribute to your dad. Your beautiful card, as well as your words, brought a tear to my eye. Peace-

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  4. What a beautiful tribute to your dad Kim. You card is beautiful too, you've captured his memory well!!

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  5. Fantastic card Kim. Love the background paper... so neat with the brush stroke look. The heat embossing looks great on the vellum. Great scene. What a nice way of remembering your dad.

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  6. Oh Kim. I'm so glad you have such sweet memories of your dad. Another good person called to heaven too soon; my mom's been gone 35 1/2 years... Thank you for sharing a part of his life with us. He sounds like he was a wonderful man. Your card is a fitting tribute to him. This is just beautiful. Love every single element. BTW....I was born in RC. Bev

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  7. Your card is gorgeous and striking, Kim...but it's the memories you've shared of your father that have touched me deeply. I agree with Bev: too soon called away from our lives. The 'six months' 'anniversary of my dad's passing (how quickly time has passed some days, while others...slow and dreary) will take place on June 30th. I'm not sure I'm 'capable' of a tribute just yet...but you've sure inspired me to think about doing so...
    ~c

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