All About Pocket Knives

cudgee wrote: ↑Wed Nov 19, 2025 8:33 pm The AAPK forum at it's finest.

Amen, cudgee!

Ray

Beautiful tribute.

Very awesome.

In light of all the deaths that I have experienced since Miss Joy passed and now Jerry's passing, there is something I haven't felt like sharing with the forum until today, the last words my darling spoke to me, the morning she was overcome with the pain of the pancreatic cancer. As I was helping her to get settled in our bed she said, "I can't remember ever hurting this bad except for maybe giving birth!". Don't remember my response to those words but the next and last words are forever imprinted on my heart, "I want to go to Heaven." She knew and was ready physically and spiritually.
I didn't intend to continue with this thread but somehow I felt Miss Joy would want everyone to make their earthly preparation and be able to face death with what she told the doctor when he said you have stage 4 pancreatic cancer, "I'm ready to go!"
Treefarmer

treefarmer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 8:48 pm In light of all the deaths that I have experienced since Miss Joy passed and now Jerry's passing, there is something I haven't felt like sharing with the forum until today, the last words my darling spoke to me, the morning she was overcome with the pain of the pancreatic cancer. As I was helping her to get settled in our bed she said, "I can't remember ever hurting this bad except for maybe giving birth!". Don't remember my response to those words but the next and last words are forever imprinted on my heart, "I want to go to Heaven." She knew and was ready physically and spiritually.
I didn't intend to continue with this thread but somehow I felt Miss Joy would want everyone to make their earthly preparation and be able to face death with what she told the doctor when he said you have stage 4 pancreatic cancer, "I'm ready to go!"
Treefarmer

That had to be hard. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you Philip for sharing.

Thanx TF

Thanks for sharing Farmer. We are here for you buddy. God bless you as you travel on.

Thank you for sharing Philip. Those who are believers in Jesus Christ know that Miss Joy is now pain free walking the streets of gold with Jesus.

dlr110 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 10:33 pm Thank you for sharing Philip. Those who are believers in Jesus Christ know that Miss Joy is now pain free walking the streets of gold with Jesus.

Amen, Brother!

Ray

Philip, we can all learn from her example of facing inevitable death with dignity. Knowing we will be seeing the New Jerusalem gives us all strength. Thank you for sharing that.

Ken

Thank you for sharing Philip. Miss Joy's testimony lives on. A life well lived testifies through many generations.

Thank you for the kind words that are a blessing to me, knowing she tried to honor her Lord and Savior in everything she did.
I still have a big hole in my heart and I reckon it will be there til I leave this world.
I use our years of pictures as a screensaver on the old office computer, sometimes I just sit and watch for a while. This picture caught my eye, it was taken about 17 years ago, it displays how she approached (most of the time) every day of life: Treefarmer

Awesome picture and memory, tree.

X2 Phil
I’m not sure if the smart phone in my hand is a good thing or bad. Like you I can sit and scroll through pictures for the last 10-12 years. Not only have we grown old fast. The pictures of the kids and now they are grown and gone.
Steve

treefarmer wrote: ↑Sat Feb 28, 2026 3:59 pm Thank you for the kind words that are a blessing to me, knowing she tried to honor her Lord and Savior in everything she did.
I still have a big hole in my heart and I reckon it will be there til I leave this world.
I use our years of pictures as a screensaver on the old office computer, sometimes I just sit and watch for a while. This picture caught my eye, it was taken about 17 years ago, it displays how she approached (most of the time) every day of life:dec09 049.jpg
Treefarmer

Wonderful pic Philip. Wonderful Lady.

Folks, let me share with you another facet of life without my best friend.
Last Thursday the 23rd, "workday", would have been Miss Joy's 81st birthday. Facing special days since her death have been a challenge for me. A few weeks ago I wondered if we could celebrate her birthday by having a workday "country dinner" like she had cooked for the last 12 years almost every Thursday, inviting friends that enjoyed her gift of hospitality plus family that could attend.
We pulled it off and had a bittersweet celebration. A few friends, her sisters and 2 of our children made up the dinner crew.
Miss Joy often asked that we ask the blessing before we filled our dinner plates buffet style so the dipped plates might not get cold. Our friend, Walt prayed over our food and fellowship. Two things were missing, Joy's fried cornbread and Joy. Folks sat and talked for probably 2 hours after the meal and the 2 birthday cakes.
I really appreciate the effort and support that went into making her 1st birthday in heaven a bit more tolerable for me. We've got one more major holiday to navigate, Mother's Day. All the special days will then have been endured without her, my birthday 3 days after she passed, anniversary 11days later, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day, and Easter.
It is therapeutic for me to share this with my AAPK family.
Treefarmer

Appreciate your sharing Philip.

Sounds like it was a very special celebration day, tree. And a nice memorial to your beloved.

It is really good to hear how you are navigating this, both because we care how you are doing, and because of most of us being close to your age are mindful and are thinking about having to deal with this ourselves in the days ahead. I love hearing about family and friends coming beside you. A friend who lost his wife of 60 plus years told me that the hardest part for him has been when everybody goes home and thinks he is handling things well and the support starts going away. May God continue to bless you with His peace and continue to use family and friends to come along side you on this long journey.____Dave

As painful as these "firsts" are, they are a good way to carry on Miss Joy's legacy and celebrate her life. I don't think she'd want you to avoid or ignore them, and you can hopefully remember the happy times with friends and family during them.