Terry's Cabinet

I call it Terry's cabinet, but it really is my cabinet filled with some of Terry's things.  It was so exciting to have it here.  I had a hard time wanting to go to sleep the evening of the 16th - it had been a good day filled with thoughts of Terry and sharing some precious things with family - I didn't want it to end.  So, when this cabinet came on the 17th it made that day just as exciting.  And today it continues because I am posting about it.  Tomorrow it will be good because I can stand and gaze into this cabinet filled with love and admiration for the man it reminds me of.

This cabinet now stands in the new library. Please overlook the reflection in the glass.  Clutter happens when things get moved around.  And because of all the clutter I couldn't hide well either.

I stuffed this cabinet full of things as quickly as I could because I have such a busy schedule the next few weeks, and with a family reunion here this next weekend I needed to have all the boxes filled with Terry's things out of the way.  So, I may change the arrangement some time, but it won't be for awhile.

There are things from birth to ..., I guess I can say it ..., from birth to death, that belonged to him or tell some of his life story.   Precious things that needed displayed.

I still have things in our bedroom and the office and in our entertainment center, but this is a bunch of other things that I wish I had displayed while he was here.  I really should have.  I just didn't have any more space behind glass doors at the time.

My rearranging things in the house the last few months has created new space that allows this to happen and I love it.  I should have thought of it years ago. These things were just tucked away behind a cupboard door, hard to get to, and he couldn't see or share them easily.  I'm so sorry!


Surely you noticed the Terry Bear!

And, did you notice the glasses?  I had those glasses inside the case and thought they would be perfect on his face.  I love it!
I took a closeup of the bear this morning after I set a rose on his arm - this rose is from the floral arrangement that was on top the casket.  I love it even more now!

FYI - the little car is there because I found it in a suit pocket.  Terry would have his suit pockets full of crumbs, garbage or little things like this car, that the kids would play with at church. Of course these were the older boys younger years.  The younger members of the family didn't get to sit with him at church much because of his callings that kept him on the stand with the bishopric or in the Spanish Branch.

This next photo shows his birth announcement.  

This was attached to a piece of paper and I decided since it was now mine I would remove it from the paper.  I found that it was the announcement that was sent to his grandparents and there is some writing on the back. Due to lack of time, I have not read it all yet, but I plan to.  I also found a start of a life history that his mother had began for him many years ago.  It reminded me of one my mother did for me when I was in college, due to a request from one of the professors.  I'll read that sometime too.

I love the Nova keys! He spoke of that car - his first I believe, and it is fun to see them there.  I have seen all of this stuff in here and he has shared a little about some of it, so as I see it I can almost hear him telling me again.  I don't really hear it, but I can remember that we did talk about it and I can feel his excitement or enjoyment as he did talk about these things.

He had a little date book that he had written in.  Not all pages were filled, but this one caught my eye. I know he was a good worker.  He was not afraid to work.  This page shares his thoughts on that subject.  There was a similar one in his missionary journal too.

"Worked today

be ye not idle"

The lady bucket, with a few things inside.
Picture of BJo with her dad at a daddy daughter party.  The picture in the back is from a friend - the story is a bit lengthy to add here, but it is a memory that touches my heart.

Radios and phones - it's fun to see how times have changed with those.
FYI - the Hearts and Minds page is from an Ensign (Church magazine) and the photo is of one of Terry's ancestors.  It was fun to see there.

Hats - he kinda liked hats.

The Keep on Tractin' shirt was a Christmas gift from a missionary companion.

And those shoes - pretty cool!

Lengthen Your Stride music sheet - I don't remember exactly what this was about, but it does have "Terry's mission" written on the top corner of the page, in his mothers hand writing.

 A box with miscellaneous items, including some post cards from Spain.















Mission things (some are in other areas of the house).
He is on the left in that photo.  I have always loved that picture.

His rock collection from his grade school years.

Our family each used to wear a LiveStrong band - it is really how Terry lived.  And the paper under it is Terry's medicine list from one of our trips to the clinic, in his own writing.  I found it on his dresser and couldn't throw it away.

He made this dog (I can't think of what to call it) for one of his school classes.
You've seen parts of this little gun in some of the photos. I believe it is one that he and Hollis got for Christmas one year.

Books - many from his mission.  The little red one on the right is from his grandmother, to Terry for graduation.
Hey, there is some room there for something else - I'll have to see what I can fill it with. ;)

The box that we put the sympathy cards (and a few other things) in after he passed away.  

Some day I will go through those again and make them look a little more organized.  They are just sitting in there the way we put them as they came in.

And this is his graduation photo, a pair of sunglasses (from his teenage years) and a 1957 penny (the year he was born). 

Fun stuff to see.
And there are a few more things ...

The ship he got in Spain.   It's always been displayed on top of our library shelves, but now it has it's place on top his cabinet.

The luggage he used on his mission.

They have seen better days, but are still fun to see.
They have lived under our bed or in the cupboard in our bathroom, but now they live here beside his cabinet.
The bigger one filled with hats.  Hats that were on a shelf and behind closed cupboard doors in the office.
We cannot see them here, but I know they are there and some day they will be given to his children and grandchildren.  I just can't give them up yet, so they will stay with me for a while longer.

And, lastly, a baseball mitt and bats.

A magazine box he made in high school. It has been housing color books for the grandchildren since we brought it home from his parents house after his mother passed away, January 2012.

Well, that's it for this post - Terry's cabinet in the library.

And, except for the bed that needs made, on the other side of this room, this room is ready for reunion days ahead.  (Honestly, I made it this morning, but didn't want to take a new photo to prove it, but it's ready!)  No more clutter like what was seen in the second photo above.

Now on to other rooms!


 

Terry Hebdon Life Sketch

Life sketch, given by Thomas -

How do you put into words the events in a man’s life that made him who he is? I have tried to read more of dads early life’s stories, look through his photo albums, and get input from many who knew him. I didn’t want this to be my life sketch of dad, but his life sketch from others. I’m not eloquent like he, nor do I share his ability with words. I do however want to share some experiences from our family to combine what you all know of him with a few things you may not know so we can paint the true picture of “One Good Man.”

            Keith Auger and Idris Egbert Hebdon moved from Idaho to Washington to pursue the farming lifestyle they desired. They had purchased property in Royal City but the land did not yet have water to it, so they settled in Quincy for a time. Dad was born in Ephrata on July 16, 1957, while the family lived in Quincy, the fifth of seven children.

            The family lived in a small camper trailer till they were able to build a home. Dad remembers carrying nails and boards as they built this home, which as you may know, the walls were built with 2x4s stacked on top of each other.

            He talked about the early process of taming the land and the lack of amenities that we now enjoy like running water. He remembers bathing in the canal near the home and at a young age changing siphon tubes. Fixing holes in the dirt ditches and changing water which was always a family affair. Later up grading to hand lines and to pumps to wheel lines and eventually circles. He remembers when the family bought a harobed, which was one of the first in the area, and as kids they ran in front of it turning flat bales on edge as Dennis would pick them up. These experiences along with many others taught dad how to Work, and the importance of it.

            Dad learned the importance of Sharing and Spending Wisely as, during the difficult years, the activities of daily life were centered around the basic necessities of the family.

            Dad was “born of goodly parents who loved the Lord” who taught the importance of Church Service and Missionary Work. I found in his photo album many certificates for participation in church activities such as boy scouts and the young men’s organization which show his desire to follow those teachings. From 1976-1978 he served a mission in Barcelona Spain. This was not the first of his serving opportunities nor the last but was one that we, as his children, know he cherished. We know it provided a broad range of experiences that helped shape him as a man, a father, husband, brother, teacher, friend and cook. He would often make Spanish tortillas for breakfast and taught us simple Spanish words occasionally at the dinner table like leche and sandia and agua, allowing us to share in the excitement of his experiences and sharing in his own way his testimony of the work.

            After returning from his mission, dad continued his life like most returned missionaries, attending firesides and activities, getting to know new people. In June of 1979 at a young adult dance dad met Elaine Rodeback a beautiful young woman. They danced, then went on their own ways after. The next day at a fireside, dad asked mom again to accompany him to an activity in Kennewick, she was pleased to accept the invitation. It didn’t take long for mom and dad to recognize something special in each other and they knew they wanted to continue with courtship.

            Mom, in her teenage years, had developed a “mental list of qualities” her future husband must posses, qualities like Tall, Dark, and Handsome, Kind, Humble, Knowledgeable, Thoughtful and has a sense of Humor.

Dad, in his life up until this moment, must have been developing those qualities in himself. Because when they met, he fit the mold.

            I don’t know if dad had a list for mom, I never found one in his journal but I did find a couple pages of notes and drafts of this poem he sent to mom. And how can you give dad’s life sketch without a poem or two? This poem was the first that mom knew dad to write. It was a strength to her then, and as you blog followers may know, it has been a strength since. He wrote:

            My heart is full

            It can not write

            And so my hand

            Picks up the plight

            To express to you

            My love and care

            And thank you most

            For being there

            For permitting my acquaintance

            With you to grow

            And become a love

            that’s true we know

            A thing that thrives

            When we’re together

            A bonding force

            For worse or better

           

            An emotion that

            One day may be

            A light far off

            That we can see

            Which guides us both

            In our trek together

            Bringing sunshine

            In stormy weather

            That utopia we both

            Must strive to find

            Through tenderness

            And being kind

            Now let it be said

            Before I’m through

            Elaine, my dearest

            I do love you!

            What else needs to be said after receiving a poem like that? A couple more months of courtship led to their marriage on February 12, 1980 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Where they vowed to continue on life’s journey together. To continue to check off many more “mental list qualities” as he became her Best Friend, Loving Husband, Great Father, Great Example and Hard Worker, along with many others.      I know he succeeded! I have seen it, I know many of you have seen these qualities expressed through his actions and words.

            Often times at home, we have joked about the older children growing up with a different dad than the younger children. Life definitely threw us a curveball that changed the game a little, but I know the younger children still saw these qualities. We saw tributes on face book from BrittanyJo and Chase and others that prove this.  Dad never changed who he was. He grew up in a time when your word was your bond, and a handshake was a contract. He never changed that either, even when the world lowered its standards. He taught us to be the same, by his example and we all can agree that he is our Hero!

            He also taught us to work hard, that it was possible to do hard things. He taught us, “early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” To “get up, get dressed, and get going.” He would quote the film Bambi “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” Taught us to do our best in every task we faced. To not be afraid of the unknown or cower from a challenge, that “he had signed up for this”. He was resourceful, he built furniture pieces, some out of left over lumber from our house and some out of scrap metal from the shop. It seemed he could repair anything we could break, maybe not the conventional way but he would figure it out. He overhauled an engine learning as he went, being meticulous and attentive as he tore it apart so he could correctly put it back together. Whatever the task he worked till the job was done.

            He has always took pride in his accomplishments while striving to maintain humility. He encouraged us to take “pride in ownership” no matter the condition. As life has gone on his perspectives have changed a bit. He has been able to achieve many of his business goals:   
            Work hard to get out of debt

            Build an adequate home and provide for family

            Become self reliant/dependent/sustaining

He also shifted more focus to personal/family goals

            #1 raise family in gospel-have joy in posterity

            Attend graduations from HS and College

            All boys serve missions

            Attend all Temple Marriages

Some of these are nearing completion, while others have a way to go still. But I know his passing will not stop him from fulfilling these remaining goals, even though he cannot do so in person.

            I will always remember, as Akleigh calls them, the Seadattle trips while dad was receiving transplants. How we were able to spend Christmas together,  ride the ducks, go  to the zoo or the aquarium, and visit Pikes Place Market. Last year we enjoyed finding and counting the 12^th man flags, a tradition we didn’t know would keep going where ever we go.

             I remember seeing his compassion towards others as they too were receiving treatments and facing life’s trials. Sharing the gospel with many and love with all. Telling about the different sleeves made by BrittanyJo and Ellen and sharing them with others.

            The different stories from his life as he and I worked together for the past few years. Stories that weren’t momentous in many ways but still brought us closer together. In trying to come up with a few things to share about dad, I asked a few of my siblings if they had anything they thought should be said. Through a lot of the ensuing small talk a common thread was the way they enjoyed being able to spend time with him in different ways. Dad was fun to be around and to learn from. There are many more experiences I could share and I’m sure you have some of your own too.

            I am grateful for the time we got to spend together. For his unwavering and unshaken faith and positive outlook in his life that seemed to be a lot like the weather outside today. For being the rock I needed at times in my life when I was walking through sand and needed a solid place to stand. May we never forget Dad’s life, nor the life of whom he followed.

            I feel a little like my speaking today has gone against one of dad’s other sayings. “Of all the things that come to your head, only 10% of them should be said.” I may be around 15% now, so I will finish with a poem from my Aunt Shawna,

            The sofa is covered with children,

                        But it is empty too.

            The room is lit and glowing,

                        But it is empty too.

            The lady bug bucket is missing,

                        I’m sure it’s empty too.

            But life goes on forever, we know,

                        Because of the empty tomb.

I love you, Dad!

-----

Now a note from Elaine:
The lady bug bucket is just a cute bucket I had at the house when Terry needed it.  If you had visited the last month or two of his life you probably saw it sitting on the sofa, table, or floor beside him.

It was cuter than a garbage can or big plastic bowl, and it became his "spittoon" so to speak.  He would use it to spit in, throw up in, or just put garbage in.  He sometimes referred to it as his "ladybugget".