Ken's Voice
Today I should be here starting to recover from my surgery..but not to be....so I will have to wait to see when it will be scheduled again and get myself in my mind ready for it...
I had read in one of the journal or somewhere that someone was afraid that they were forgetting their child's voice...and didn't want it to happen...oh and me either I don't want to ever forget the once happy voice and especially of Ken's last one he made on his phone when he got the job in AL....He was so happy...so excited...had such wonderful plans for what he envisioned the Church Camp to become...He had a vision and on our first visit to see him..he walked us around the grounds..not all 200 but the parts that were clear, the confenerence center, the motel, the cabins, the lake...the areas that needed things fixed and all his thoughts and his excitement of seeing something come from being shut down for several years into a place that all ages could come and attend and camps for the kids.
You could hear the excitement and look on his face as we hiked the hills...listened to the water streams as they flowed to make ripple water falls....where the horses would be..fixing the tennis areas, basketball ....the boats to take anyone out fishing or just a nice night or day on the lake....He had the dreams and he could see it all even if he knew it would take time, money, help and cooperation to accomplish the dreams he had.
The first year he went there was in Feb 07...We went down to help them out..there was painting to be down...flower gardens to be weeded and new plants planted....rooms to be freshened...cabin to be re-done...broken windows to be fixed...The awe on his face the beam that you could see as he stretched out his arms you could see his vision as he shared it with us....the thing about the camp is right off the interstate, yet it was like being miles from anywhere....as we drove down the roads, the over-hanging trees...the vastness of the property...the barns...I turned to Ken and said..."this is almost like being home, isn't it" and to his reply was with a bright smile "Yes".
Years ago we purchased 150 acres....we worked that property...we cleaned it...we moved boulders of rocks...we had gardens...we had horses...we made a home...yet we never finished what our plans were on those 150 acres they were "home"...so as I said that to Ken that day it was like "coming home"....back to where it was like yet different but gave the same feeling...Ken felt at peace there...
And it was there that Ken recorded his last message on his phone: The phone still today still has the same message.....in a very happy, exciting voice Ken answers:
"Hi, this is Pastor Ken, I'm sorry I am not available at the moment, but please leave your name and number and I will return your call. Thank you for calling and have a blessed day"
Those words, his voice is there anytime for us to hear....I don't want to ever forget Ken's voice...I remind myself of that recording...I hear it in my mind as I too don't want to forget...as we feel we won't but then time has a way of changing things.
I don't know what Heaven is really like...but if I do think about Ken in Heaven, I can hear his deep voice...I can see him as he is taking care of some land ...still working on his dream...his vision...I don't think it is like it is here on this earth...but I think that we can only think with our human minds...and our human minds show us what our children loved about things they did in this life...and I guess the thing that if I could talk and ask Ken would not be "this is almost like coming home"...no not this time..this time I would say to Ken as I would see the big smile on his face...."Your Home" and he would turn to me and say "Yes mom, I am finally home"....but then I think he would add to this statement..."Yes mom, I am finally home....just waiting for all my family to join me"....until
that day...I will remember his voice in my head...I will remember the look of joy he had that day in 2007, when he said "yes, it is almost like coming home".....but now I know he is "home" and
if ever my mind should fade or I just want to hear his voice, I will pick up the phone and call his message and hear the smile and happiness in his voice as he says:
"Hi, this is Pastor Ken........
That's my boy....love you son....mom
I had read in one of the journal or somewhere that someone was afraid that they were forgetting their child's voice...and didn't want it to happen...oh and me either I don't want to ever forget the once happy voice and especially of Ken's last one he made on his phone when he got the job in AL....He was so happy...so excited...had such wonderful plans for what he envisioned the Church Camp to become...He had a vision and on our first visit to see him..he walked us around the grounds..not all 200 but the parts that were clear, the confenerence center, the motel, the cabins, the lake...the areas that needed things fixed and all his thoughts and his excitement of seeing something come from being shut down for several years into a place that all ages could come and attend and camps for the kids.
You could hear the excitement and look on his face as we hiked the hills...listened to the water streams as they flowed to make ripple water falls....where the horses would be..fixing the tennis areas, basketball ....the boats to take anyone out fishing or just a nice night or day on the lake....He had the dreams and he could see it all even if he knew it would take time, money, help and cooperation to accomplish the dreams he had.
The first year he went there was in Feb 07...We went down to help them out..there was painting to be down...flower gardens to be weeded and new plants planted....rooms to be freshened...cabin to be re-done...broken windows to be fixed...The awe on his face the beam that you could see as he stretched out his arms you could see his vision as he shared it with us....the thing about the camp is right off the interstate, yet it was like being miles from anywhere....as we drove down the roads, the over-hanging trees...the vastness of the property...the barns...I turned to Ken and said..."this is almost like being home, isn't it" and to his reply was with a bright smile "Yes".
Years ago we purchased 150 acres....we worked that property...we cleaned it...we moved boulders of rocks...we had gardens...we had horses...we made a home...yet we never finished what our plans were on those 150 acres they were "home"...so as I said that to Ken that day it was like "coming home"....back to where it was like yet different but gave the same feeling...Ken felt at peace there...
And it was there that Ken recorded his last message on his phone: The phone still today still has the same message.....in a very happy, exciting voice Ken answers:
"Hi, this is Pastor Ken, I'm sorry I am not available at the moment, but please leave your name and number and I will return your call. Thank you for calling and have a blessed day"
Those words, his voice is there anytime for us to hear....I don't want to ever forget Ken's voice...I remind myself of that recording...I hear it in my mind as I too don't want to forget...as we feel we won't but then time has a way of changing things.
I don't know what Heaven is really like...but if I do think about Ken in Heaven, I can hear his deep voice...I can see him as he is taking care of some land ...still working on his dream...his vision...I don't think it is like it is here on this earth...but I think that we can only think with our human minds...and our human minds show us what our children loved about things they did in this life...and I guess the thing that if I could talk and ask Ken would not be "this is almost like coming home"...no not this time..this time I would say to Ken as I would see the big smile on his face...."Your Home" and he would turn to me and say "Yes mom, I am finally home"....but then I think he would add to this statement..."Yes mom, I am finally home....just waiting for all my family to join me"....until
that day...I will remember his voice in my head...I will remember the look of joy he had that day in 2007, when he said "yes, it is almost like coming home".....but now I know he is "home" and
if ever my mind should fade or I just want to hear his voice, I will pick up the phone and call his message and hear the smile and happiness in his voice as he says:
"Hi, this is Pastor Ken........
That's my boy....love you son....mom
Replies
I regret I don\'t have any of Melissa\'s voice messages saved...I never thought I would want them because I expected to die before her....you are lucky you have than Sandi....Hugs and love, Connie
Sounds like he had a wonderful life.
What a wonderful gift you have - that message. I don\'t have a recording (I probably do somewhere on video but have no idea where it is). But I can hear Lisa\'s voice as she said \"Hi Mummy\" when she answered the phone.
I sure do miss it but I expect she and Pastor Ken are having some lively discussions!.
It really is a drag having to wait for another surgery date but at least you will know that you are healthy enough to undergo anesthetic.
Love and hugs,
Marlene
Hold onto that message for all it\'s worth......take care and good luck with the surgery date....
\"Hi, this is pastor Ken\".....what a beautiful sound I know....
I can still hear Kala\'s phone message....\"Hey ya\'ll, this is Kala\"..... It\'s no longer recorded, but I hear it in my heart.
Continued prayers on your behalf my friend, love, Teri.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story about Ken...it warms my heart and soul. I too miss Vanessa\'s voice and the excitement that she brought to the world... What a comfort to know Ken is \"home\" and smiling upon you with all the love he carried in his heart! Hugs, Amber
Well, now you and I both are waiting on surgery dates. Nerve wracking, isn\'t it??
I loved the story about Ken and his dream. He sounds like such a special person. The answering machine message is such a blessing for you. (((HUGS)))...Julia
I have the last msg Mike left on my house phone, I can listen to his voice but it also makes me cry. Never want to forget anything, Sending my love and best for surg.
Hugs Penny