Sad news...

Just wanted to let you know that my dad passed away unexpectedly last night (in the middle of the night for me here). My mom called me this morning to break the news. I will be flying home as soon as I can. Here’s some descriptions from my mom and bro:

Hannah: lost my most beloved husband a few hours ago. He was at church for an evening men's study of the book Wild at Heart. During a small discussion group, he just slumped over, apparently of heart failure. He had a perfectly wonderful day, out in the spring sunshine, repainting the lawn table and chairs. He made me a simple, but scrumptious dinner, and off he went....

What a fitting place to leave this mortal sphere... in the Lord's House. He deeply loved the Lord his whole life, and quietly shared that rock solid faith with others. As someone said tonight, a very "gentle-man."

I'm still in a state of shock, I think. I keep expecting him to come through the front door... My gallant Englishman who swept my heart away within days of meeting him while on an exchange program in 1971 ... But tonight, he's rejoicing to meet his King and hug all those he loves who've gone ahead. TMO, My Sweet. xoxoxo

Ryan Liddiard The world has lost a hero. For those who knew him, he will live forever in our hearts and memories as the father, husband, and friend we all one day hope to be -- A loss that can never be replaced

He loved like each day was his first... lived like each day was his last, and each of us are better for having shared this life with him. I am fortunate enough to have called him Dad. I will never forget you, "Mr. Bus Driver, Sir"... how ever could we? You will be desperately missed!

Hugh Martin Albert Liddiard 2.23.1949 - 6.9.2010

…and Dad... you better serve them chocolate cupcakes for dessert at the Lord's table!

Em again: I think I am still in a state of shock too…I am thankful that Dad messaged me on facebook just hours before he passed away so after my mom broke the news I was able to read one last message from him (she knew he had sent it, and I hadn’t been to the office to check email since then). Earlier today when I thought to myself, “I don’t have a father…” I felt like my Heavenly Father was like, ‘Yes you do.’ I trust that my heavenly Father’s grace and comfort will sustain me through this. He’s held me through so much before.

My dad helped me see and understand what the Father’s love is like…he would tell me so often that he loves me that I sometimes had to tell him to stop…I get it!  It was so much on his mind and in his heart that it got to the point where he would just have to say, “Em…” and I knew it meant, “I love you” would follow, even if he didn’t say it. Sometimes when I’d walk outside the house, he call “Em…” through the kitchen window and I’d turn and smile…he wouldn’t even have to say “I love you”…it was just known between us.

I just compiled the latest messages between us, and it’s kinda cool how in the last week or so, we had emailed or messaged almost every day. I felt I should send him a quick note yesterday to say how I’d been meaning to call home soon and that I love him. And last week or so, I’d just felt compelled to just call home while stuck in traffic just to say “I love you” to him and mom. Even though it’s expensive on my cell phone and I knew I couldn’t talk for long, I just had the urge to just call and say ‘I love you.’ Here’s some of the recent things he sent to me—it brings me comfort (and humor) to read them, so I thought I’d share:

May 11 email
Subject: Tuesday tidings

Em......
I love you.
dad:-)

May 25, 2010 at 4:35pm
Subject: guess
thats right!! -- love you sweetie

dad

Tuesday, June 1 email:
Good morning sweets

5.45 on a Tuesday morning. I see that you've just posted 'cow' pictures on facebook.

My animal experience is less visual and more physical, or even tactile.

Chester scratched to go out at about 4.50 and I was not quite as quick as he would have preferred. Nothing quite sets one's day off on the right foot as stepping boldly with the left foot into a pool of warm, aromatic dog urine.

But the day can only improve, I told myself, as I mopped with a bucket of hot bleach water.

And yes..... a picture and comment from my sweetie. Thank you!

My squishy foot memory fades.......

luv ya

dad :-)


June 1 email:

babe

I bet youse glad to be havin warm agfannies to be snuggleuppagus under the skeeter net.

The Official Government Meteorological Office Website says that June and July are the coldest months and that the forecast for Thursday for Mochudi is for a low of 37F.

Chilly showers in the early Friday morning ablutions.

Hot Chocolate and Mulled Pumpkin Juice will be the nightcaps of choice.

Stay warm

luv ya

dad :-)

June 2 email:
this morning was not so early, nor so moist.

warm hugs

dad

June 2 my (Em's) facebook status- so there I was...running when a massive bull with quite pointy horns approached from the opposite direction on the same dirt twin-track path. wisely, i stopped. the bull sauntered toward me until it reached a point where it stopped. we stared. then I started walking towards him to the right side, and he got the hint... and sauntered off, cowbell clanging, to the left. and i continued my run.

Dad's comment: "First you 'stare down' a Rock Hyrax, now a Greater Horned Bovine .. what next??"

Hugh Liddiard June 3 at 2:13pm
Babe - The reaction to your 'bull' story is based on the reality that 'we' do not see livestock up close and personal. We lead a sheltered, pampered and quite different lifestyle - and are overly confident in too many things and not open to what goes on around us. Faith and Religious awareness suffer from this 'self' mindset. We need to be made aware of the differences, and your stories and experiences which you share with everyone increase the scope of reality.

Keep the stories coming - it's good to see the world through your experiences.

luv ya, lots!

dad

Mon June 7 email:
The chickens in Botswana may cross the road in search of monkeys, their counterparts on 10th Ave. in Port Huron are still making raucous cries to greet the dawn, (or proclaim the expulsion of eggs ).
luv ya sweets

dad :-)

Hugh Liddiard June 8 at 6:35pm
the coffee bar pictures are great ..... candlelight pool!!
Do I detect visual evidence of your 'WINTER WARDROBE'?
Jacket, long pants and shoes??

luv ya babe

stay warm

dad:-)

Emily Liddiard June 9 at 1:45pm
yes, twas my wardrobe...though soon after this picture was taken i stripped off the coat, removed the long-sleeve undershirt to remain in a polo short-sleeve shirt, in which i suffered sunburn while eating lunch and now have a slight farmers tan. then i rolled up my pants to the knee as I was toasty. and so we use heat and A/C in the same day in the car.
i treated myself to a KFC brownie sundae since i was at the main mall to pick up a parcel from the post office and there is the KFC.

i keep meaning to call but been busy lately or the living room is occupied til late and i don't want to switch off the music or disturb the readers therein. love you!!!

Hugh Liddiard June 9 at 2:50pm
I am curious, my sweet, with the approach of the solstice, when the sun is at its zenith in the Northern Hemisphere and daylight starts at 4am and lasts til almost 10pm, what happens to the length of day in Botswana?

Getting a 'Farmer's tan' is indicative that the 'Winter Sun', tho' it may be low in the sky, can still have an effect on the delicate of pigmentation. It should be a reminder to use - I was gonna say 'protection' - but I didn't think that was quite proper, so -sunscreen (SPF lots).

Are you disturbing the status quo within the domicile with your proclivity for extended hours of wakefulness? If you recall, upon your arrival, the general population was a-bed by 8.30pm and you had to whisper on the 'phone lest you rouse your roomies from slumber. Now, you can hardly make a simple telephonic communication because of raucous music and wild party-time activities (page turnin' an' the like).

My, how times have changed.

mother is up so I gotta let her read this..... luv ya back..dad

So that last one was written just hours before he passed away. It still seems so surreal. My mom has people around her to comfort her...I think it is the grace of God that it didn't work out for them to move to MN a month ago...so now my mom is with people she's known forever in MI and dad's funeral can be in MI where everyone knows him. Ryan's work is flying him to be with my mom...and I'll get there probably Saturday or Sunday and stay for like a few weeks or a month perhaps so I can get my jaw looked at by the specialists since it's still bugging me a bit.
I've got lots of support around me here too, don't worry.

But of course, prayers are appreciated. And prayers for safe travels home. It looks like I’ll be flying into Johannesburg tomorrow which is the day the World Cup starts in Jo’burg…so please pray for smooth travels.
i gotta get back to finding flights. thanks so much for your prayers.

love,
Em