133: Be a Builder

Some people are planners and some are builders.

My father-in-law was both: a meticulous planner and a skilled builder.

Although, I think craftsman is a much better description than builder in his case.

But build he did...

Of utmost value relative to his faith driven legacy, he built a marriage that lasted 72 and a half years with my mother-in-law before her death in October 2025. Alongside her, he built a family — three daughters, the youngest of which I'm particularly fond. His family legacy expanded to embrace five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

My father-in-law never built anything without careful measurement and keen awareness of how his planned project should take shape. If space allowed, he was not opposed to refining those plans — constructing something bigger, better, and, from his perspective, more practical.

His wood working skills enabled him to craft anything within reason. In 1988, I was interested in a stand-up desk (long before they became trendy). "Can you craft one for me?," I asked. He replied, "Send me the measurements and some sketch ideas of what you want."

That was all he needed to get to work. Weeks later the moving van delivered to my Houston office, the intricately crafted sections of my massive stand-up desk, ready to assemble. I've had the joy of working from my treasured solid oak stand up masterpiece for nearly 40 years.

Builders like my father-in-law are

• resourceful,
• attentive to detail,
• practical, and
• always adding their unique touch of love to whatever they craft.

I have deep respect for the man who was a builder, the father to my wonderful wife, a grandfather to our daughters, and a great grandfather to our grandchildren. He passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026. And as I write this from the stand up desk I've used for my writing craft all these years, I'm reminded that we are all builders in a sense - he used wood...I use words.

Press on...

Eddie