Full name Paul "Richard" Schiedel. Known to many as Dick Schiedel.
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Lift your glad voices in triumph on high,
for Jesus hath risen, and we shall not die...

-words from the prelude hymn at the Service of Remembrance for Richard Schiedel, July 8, 2010

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Richard was truly one in a million. With that sly grin, he brightened every room he walked into. He encouraged, taught, and set higher standards for all those fortunate enough to have known him. His keen intellect and sense of humour will be greatly missed!

e-mail received from one of Richard's business associates
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Paul Richard Schiedel was born Jun 10, 1932, the second and youngest son of Ivan Schiedel and Ellen Hallman. He was reported to be a big boy and the doctor told his mom she had a football player on her hands. He has an older brother, Cameron. A younger sister, Fern arrived when his dad Ivan married Adeline Snyder after Richard's mother's death from cancer.
Richard was a great-great-great grandson of Sam Bricker, a famous Mennonite pioneer in this area. He was always proud of the fact that he was a direct descendant of the man who was responsible for bringing the money up for the Pennsylvania Mennonites to pay for the land here in Waterloo County.
His parents moved to the Preston area when he was 4 years old and his father Ivan purchased the farm on Maple Grove Road in 1937. The area around the original farm buildings is still in the family.
He married the love of his life - Shirley Brodhaecker in 1955, and they had 4 children - Ron, Diane, Connie and Steve. They have 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
He had many loves, one being music. His favourite music was Gospel of all types - but he preferred quartet music the best. He enjoyed singing too, and even made a record once after winning a Junior Farmer quartet competition.
Another pastime was reading. This, he told us, was how he got his education. He loved to spend time in bookstores and would spend most Sunday afternoons after church reading. Once the internet came along, he spent time reading online; and quite often he would email articles to us of things he thought we might be interested in too. Dad only had a Grade 8 education but that never stopped his insatiable appetite for learning.
Another passion for Dad was the restoration of old tractors and collecting farm toys. He had a goal to collect a toy replica of every piece of machinery the farm had ever owned. Part of his collection is on display in the retail store at Compact Sod.
Richard loved wood and woodworking. He had a little workshop in his basement with all the tools he needed to create many things of interest.
A real passion for Dad was his love of travel. As he travelled his photography skills enhanced. As a child he read National Geographic and that just whet his appetite to visit every country in the world before he died. He did not quite accomplish this goal, but boy did he sure see a lot of of the world! Probably his first adventure was when at the age of 15 he travelled by train to the west coast. He vividly remembers his mother packing him a lunch and sending him off.
Dad liked getting involved in organizations and was president of many, members of plenty and on the boards of numerous. He was always on committee and always going to meetings. Some of his favourites; Laurelville Mennonite Church Centre, MEDA, Turfgrass Producers Institute, National Sod Grower's Association, and Conrad Grebel. His love of history was evident with his involvement in the Mennonite Historical Society and the Detweiler Meetinghouse.
Another one of his interests was this business of farming and he was pretty good at it. As a young man he worked for Preston Dairy and Maple Lane Dairy while farming with his family. Richard learned commerce from his mother who taught him about putting together a nice product for selling to customers in town. They sold cream, eggs, vegetables and butter - that they churned themselves at home on the farm.
Dad, his father Ivan, and brother Cameron farmed together as Ivan E. Schiedel & Sons until 1958. They had many farm firsts in the area including the first grain combine, square automatic tie baler, endless chain gutter cleaner, silo unloader, diesel tractors and forage harvester. In 1958 Ivan sold the operation to Richard and Cameron. The business was split, with Cameron and Shirlie taking the 127 acre farm on what is now the Toyota Cambridge plant and Richard and Shirley taking the home farm on Maple Grove Road. They split the machinery.
In 1959, Richard and Shirley expanded to include feeding hogs and built a new hog barn to house 750 feeder pigs. This proved to be a timely move, as hog prices spiraled upward they were able to pay off all debts incurred for the farm after just 4 years of ownership.
During this time, they continued to milk cows, shipping twenty 8 gallon cans of milk daily. In 1960 they seized the opportunity to market Guernsey Gold 2% milk because the Guernsey Cattle Breeders Association had started a promotional advertising programme to encourage people to buy their milk. In 1963 Richard and Shirley agreed to supply this milk and bought a complete herd of Guernsey cattle from Port Hope, Ontario. This is when they installed a side open milking parlour and pipeline and 2 bulk coolers - one for Guernsey milk and one for regular Holstein milk. The hog barn was gutted and used for a loafing barn, feeding facilities were changed to include two new cement silos and automatic silo unloaders to feed the herd which by 1964 totalling more than 160 head. In 1965 a new Harvestore Silo was built to provide high moisture grain corn for feed.
Richard and Shirley turned their Guernsey cattle into a top notch quality herd established under the Compact prefix. They showed their cattle and earned many ribbons including the prestigious Premier Exhibitors Banner at the Central Ontario Guernsey Show.
The Ontario Land Corporation (OLC) had purchased over 3000 acres from Freeport to Hespeler and north of Middle Block Road by the end of 1968. Our farm was included in that sale; but so was everyone elses in the area.
By 1970, things were changing in the milk industry and the Ontario Milk Producers' Association complained of losing market share by regular milk shippers due to the rapid growth of sales of Guernsey Gold 2%. So the organization, which was comprised mostly of Holstein farmers, voted to kill the trademark. So, because the milk cheque would be significantly less per month, Richard and Shirley decided to sell the herd - much to the chagrin of Mom, who really loved her cows. Dad didn't mind too much because in the back of his mind - he was travelling!
Cameron and Richard joined forces, (1970-1975) and formed a partnership under C&R Farms. Together they cash cropped 3000 acres using land owned by the OLC and other speculators in the area.
In 1972, C&R farms built 2 new Harvestore Silos for high moisture corn to sell to farmers who needed it for cattle feed. During this time period, Richard was instrumental in developing and becoming the very first user of 32% and 28% nitrogen solution for a weed and feed programme for corn grown in Ontario. This solution had never been used in agriculture before, but with persusion to the necessary people, Richard was able to convince them to experiment on his crops. Today, this is used by cash crop farmers all over the world.
In 1975 Mom and Dad seeded the first 50 acres of Bluegrass for their nursery sod production. Two years later, they harvested the first rolls and hand delivered it themselves from the back of a pickup truck. This was the beginning of what has now become a major sod company in Ontario, known as Compact Sod, now a division of Greenhorizons Group of Farms Inc. The company has grown to include sod farms locally in Cambridge, which is run by son Ron, and Hamilton Sod in Mount Hope is run by the youngest son Steve. Richard developed a system of delivering bulk bags of garden soil. He also built a golf course in Hamilton named Willow Valley Golf Course. The company employs many family members and others who feel like family.
Travelling was a real passion for Dad. He and Mom travelled worldwide with MEDA and TPI. Just for fun, after retirement, they purchased an RV and travelled extensively in North America - from fishing in Alaska to motoring to different locations of the annual International Plowing Match (IPM).
Dad was an innovator and inventor. He was constantly thinking up new ways to make things work better and followed through with his ideas. Even up to the last, he was thinking of new ideas and how to make them come about. He truly believed in a strong work ethic which he instilled in his children and grandchildren.
Dad had a real love of life and didn't waste a minute of it. He loved Mom, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was always there when he was needed most.
Dad, you were one of a kind - and we will miss you!

We love you Dad!




SCHIEDEL, Richard
Passed away suddenly after
complications from a motor vehicle
accident on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at
the Hamilton General Hospital in
his 79th year. Beloved husband of
Shirley (nee: Brodhaecker). Loving
father of Ron (Susan) of Kitchener,
Diane (Dan) Burkhart of Breslau,
Connie (Doug) Mader of Kitchener,
Steve (Christine) of Mount Hope.
Cherished grandfather of Sarah
(Justin), Andrew (Joanna), Adam,
Brad, Jon, Brittany (Greg), Scott
(Andrea), Corlise (Milton), Cassandra,
Jessica and Michael and two great
grandchildren, Tristan and Mikayla.
Dear brother of Cameron (Shirlie)
and Fern (Bill) Schaeffer. Fondly
remembered by the Brodhaecker
family. An entrepreneurial agri-businessman,
founder of Greenhorizons
Group of Farms Ltd., (Compact Sod),
he provided leadership locally and
internationally serving on many
boards and associations. Richard's
family will receive relatives and
friends Wednesday, July 7, 2010 from
2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Henry Walser
Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St.,
Kitchener, 519-749-8467. Funeral
services will be conducted at Preston
Mennonite Church, 791 Concession
Road, Cambridge on Thursday, July
8, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Interment
Hagey Cemetery, Fountain Street,
Cambridge. As expressions of
sympathy, donations to the
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
or the Heart and Stroke Foundation
would be appreciated (cards
available at the funeral home).
"He had a real love for life and
didn't waste a minute of it"
Visit www.henrywalser.com
for Richards's memorial.

Founder of Greenhorizons Group of Farms dies

July 04, 2010
By Brent Davis, Record staff
CAMBRIDGE — The man who nurtured and grew his fledgling sod business into one of the largest in the province has died, five weeks after being critically injured in a car crash.
Richard Schiedel, the founder of the Greenhorizons Group of Farms, died suddenly Saturday at Hamilton General Hospital. He was 78.
The May 30 head-on collision on Highway 8 in Cambridge claimed the life of a 32-year-old woman from Troy, Ont. at the scene; Schiedel was airlifted to hospital.
His condition had improved such that family members were preparing for him to return home in the coming days.
"We thought we were on the road to recovery," said his son, Steve. Now, Schiedel's wife, Shirley, their four children Ron, Diane, Connie and Steve, grandchildren and great-children are preparing to say goodbye.
Growing up in a farming family, Richard Schiedel was an innovator from the start.
"He was a very forward thinker," said Ron, who has run Greenhorizons with Steve since their father's retirement in 1989. "He travelled the world to look for and find these ideas."
He demonstrated that liquid nitrogen could be used in Ontario on a corn crop. He was among the pioneers in the topsoil delivery business, putting his trucks to work early in the season when the sod side of the firm was coming out of its winter slumber. Now, the company Richard founded in Cambridge in 1975 as Compact Sod also includes a mobile storage business, and even a golf course in Hamilton.
"He was a visionary," Steve said, "and he did what he could to encourage us." And he gave his sons the opportunity to make decisions — whether good or bad.
"He let me make mistakes, even if they were costly," said Ron. "He knew I had to make them to learn."
Even in his retirement, Richard Schiedel remained active in his business, and in his involvement with numerous industry, community and faith associations. An avid reader, he embraced the internet in recent years as a research tool. A family man, he always made time to support his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A bit of a sportsman, too, he got into fishing in his latter years.
"A couple of years ago, I said 'Dad, I'm 50 years old. It's time to teach me how to fish,' " Ron laughed — one of many fond memories the family will cherish.
Visitation will be held Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Henry Walser Funeral Home in Kitchener, with a funeral service on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Preston Mennonite Church.

[email protected]

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TRIBUTES TO RICHARD SCHIEDEL


MY GROWING UP DAYS WITH RICHARD………
by brother Cameron Schiedel

RICHARD WAS 4 YEARS YOUNGER THAN I. HE WAS MY YOUNGER BROTHER. I CAN REMEMBER AT HOME WITH MY PARENTS MAKING BUTTER FOR THE EGG ROUTE THEY HAD IN PRESTON. RICHARD WAS ALWAYS THERE TO GET THE BUTTERMILK FROM THE CHURN. I CAN STILL SEE HIM THERE STANDING BESIDE THE CHURN WITH HIS CUP. IN THE DAYS THAT WE WENT HELPING THE NEIGHBOURS WITH THE THRASHING AND SILO FILLING – THE LADIES USED TO PUT ON BIG DINNERS WITH LOTS OF FOOD AND PIES. RICHARD AND SOME OF THE YOUNGER LADS WOULD WEIGH THEMSELVES IN AND THEN AGAIN AFTER THE MEAL TO SEE WHO HAD CONSUMED THE MOST FOOD. THEY MENTIONED THEY HAD TO DRINK A LOT OF WATER BECAUSE THAT SEEMED TO HELP.

RICHARD WAS AGGRESSIVE AND WAS NEVER AFRAID TO TAKE CHANCES. LIKE BUILDING A 500 WEANER PIG BARN – WHEN THE MARKET WAS FLAT. HE MANAGED TO PAY OFF THAT BUILDING ON THE FIRST LOT THAT WENT TO MARKET. AFTER A FEW YEARS THE MARKET WENT FLAT AGAIN SO THEN RICHARD TORE OUT THE PENS AND PUT IN 500 LB HOLSTEIN BULL CALVES. BUT ONE NIGHT THEY HAD BROKE OUT OF THE BARN WHEN THEY WERE READY FOR MARKET WEIGHING APPROX. 1200 – 1400 LBS. –50 OF THEM TRAVELLED THE PRESTON-BRESLAU HIGHWAY. AFTER THAT INCIDENT – NO MORE BULLS.

PRESTON DAIRIES WANTED 2% GUERNSEY MILK SO THE HOLSTEIN HERD WAS PUT INTO THE HOG BARN AND THE GUERNSEY COWS WERE TIED UP IN THE COW BARN. ON AND ON IT WENT.

RICHARD'S FIRST JOB WAS WITH MAPLE LANE DAIRIES IN KITCHENER – WHILE WORKING THERE HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST CAR – A STUDEBAKER STAR LIGHT COUPE! NOT TOO LONG AFTER, HE WAS BRINGING SHIRLEY AROUND TO THE PARENT'S HOME. WOW - TWO SHIRLEY'S! SHIRLEY EVELYN AND SHIRLEY ETHEL – WE LOVE YOU BOTH.

I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT RICHARD HAD HIMSELF PREPARED FOR THIS DAY; HE MADE THE DECISION TO FOLLOW CHRIST MANY YEARS AGO. SO RICHARD, BYE FOR NOW, SEE YOU A LITTLE LATER.
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A Tribute by David Barrie at Richard's Memorial Service, July 8, 2010

What a privilege to be invited to speak about my long-time friend, Dick Schiedel. 60 years…..and we have done some fun things together. Also, we have some close connections---Shirley lived one mile north of the school (Dickie Settlement) and I lived one mile south----I enjoyed having their four kids in my 4-H club.
1954 – the first time the IPM was in Waterloo County and Dick and I were in charge of the Junior Farmer tent. Dick said, "with all the potatoes grown here, let's serve potato soup!" I said, "sure, and I have the big iron kettle to make it in." To advertise, we hung purple/gold signs on every tractor pulling the wagon rides. We also put jingle signs on every highway leading to the Breslau site. "Come alone, or come in a group and have some hot, potato soup." The weather balloon we were going to fly so people could find us, never arrived in time.
Now if you believe your success in life depends on making mistakes, and making them early, then I think I am partly responsible for his great success in business. We struck out! The highway department took down all our road signs—the health department shut down our soup operation. To top it off, Hurricane Hazel destroyed everything on Friday night.
1954 – was a new era at the ever popular Junior Farmer Conference in Toronto. First time for Male Quartette singing competitions. There was Dick and they won! Quartettes are famous for arguing which part is the most important so I'll just say his part was the foundation and key to their success.
We move on to 1957 and it seems our antics at the Plowing Match were forgotten. Dick was president of the WCJF and if you were a Waterloo J.F. you received a letter inviting you to a first-ever reunion, recognizing the Golden Anniversary of the Ag. Rep. service.
He was very proud of his collections and really enjoyed showing off his old John Deere tractor to his friend Marlen Vincent…a Case IH dealer !
Dick was first and foremost a farmer. So many can relate to his farming career

…working with Dad

Milking cows

Feeding pigs

Partnering with Cameron

Richard loved to travel and I'm sure he enjoyed detours. He picked up many ideas in these travels and these ideas have been incorporated into the creative, growing business we all admire today an example is the giant bags of soil delivered to your driveway..
Everybody loved his visits. My nephew, Bob Barrie who owns a restaurant in Banff, phoned to say Dick often stopped in and brought him up to date on Cambridge news.
Richard has had a longtime passion for gospel singing, so two years ago, Miriam and I caught the bug and the four of us spent five days on a gospel cruise. Enjoyed it so much that we went again the next year and were looking ahead to next winter. There were concerts morning, afternoon and evening for five days. Richard got to know them individually and invited them to Ontario. Every day he said "If you get there first, save us good seats!
I'd like to finish by inviting you to sing along a most appropriate Gospel Song.

Some glad morning , when this life is o'er, I'll fly away

To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, O glory, I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah by and by , I'll fly away

Listen to Song
I'll Fly Away


Eulogy for Richard Schiedel
Gerry Steinman
July 8, 2010

You have already heard of many of the hats that Richard wore, and wore well. He was a friend, a family man, a churchman, a farmer, an entrepreneur, a world traveler, a photographer, a philanthropist, with many other interests too numerous to mention. All of these definitions do not thoroughly define, however, who Richard really was. Roy and I would like to share some personal glimpses we have that provide a further view of Richard, the man.

Richard was an extremely generous man. He gave to many worthwhile causes worldwide and was very involved with MEDA - Mennonite Economic Development Associates, and enjoyed visiting their projects all over the world. However, he was also very generous on a personal level. Just a week or two before his accident he and Shirley along with four other couples attended the Barbershopper's concert in Waterloo. Before the concert we all met at a Swiss Chalet for Supper, and he announced that it was his and Shirley's fifty-fifth wedding anniversary and he would be picking up the tab for the entire table. It didn't even occur to us that it was their wedding anniversary and we should be treating them, and I don't think it occurred to him either.

We had the privilege of being involved in a small group with Richard and Shirley for many years and we did many fun things together. We were with them at a mutual friend's house on New Years Eve when the year 2000 was ushered in. Some of you may remember that there was great speculation that Y2K, as it was called, would cause most of the computers in the world to crash because of their inability to move from the year 1999 to 2000. There was expectation that there would be widespread blackouts as electrical systems ceased to function and there were fears that civilization as we knew it would come to a standstill. There was some talk about these possibilities at the party and at twelve midnight, just as we were all shouting our "Happy New Years" the entire house was suddenly cloaked in darkness. Just as we were trying to decide our next move we heard a laugh from the far corner of the house and the lights came back on. Richard had found their fuse box, and pulled the main switch just as the clocks reached twelve o'clock.

Another thing that many of us enjoyed doing was going on trips. When a trip was proposed to Richard he had only two questions, When? and Where? This was often followed by a comment that it was impossible to go then because they already had tickets for China or Argentina or some other exotic locale. However we did go on a number of bus rides to places like Branson and New York City, and sometimes we went in a caravan of vans to places like Lancaster Pa. and Rochester New York. On these trips Richard always brought a bag of marbles carefully sorted so that the colours of the marbles matched the colours of the vans, and there were the exact number of that colour as there were passenger seats in the van. At each stop, each person would pick a marble, and that would be the vehicle he or she would ride in for the next leg of the journey. This provided a variety of travel partners for the trip until one year when one of the vans was caught in a random security search at the border, and all the passengers had to report to customs. All of the people in that van were married, but not to anyone else in the van, and none of the luggage belonged to any of the passengers. After a long wait, the customs inspectors allowed the trip to continue, probably thinking that this situation was too bizarre for any threat to national security. At the next rest stop, Richard brought out his bag of marbles and the process started again.

Richard had a keen interest in everything historical. This interest led him to take the leading role in planning our church's 200 anniversary ten years ago. He chaired the organizing committee and they planned a full agenda of events that all of us who were involved will always remember. This interest also led him and Shirley to take a lead role in restoring the Detweiler Meeting House. He has been on the Board of Directors since its inception. My wife Carol is also on the board and provided me with this anecdote. He took fund raising for this project seriously and would bring his mobile bar-b-q to all of the Doors Open events and would serve Dettweiler sausage on a bun with the proceeds going to the operating costs of the Meetinghouse. Right up until the last he was trying to figure out how to access the crowds who will be attending the ploughing match in 2012 which will be right across the road from the Meetinghouse. He was thinking that with all those people right there spending money there should be some way to get them to spend money on something that would benefit the operating fund. We suspect he was still working on this in the hospital.
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A Tribute, by Roy Steckly

It is an honour and opportunity to share with you a few of the rich and meaningful times we have had together. It was 56 years ago that Bea and I came to Preston Mennonite Church when we first heard that heart-warming chuckle that belonged exclusively to Richard Schiedel. Together, we have worshiped, traveled, partied, celebrated the births of our children, their marriages, grieved the loss of our parents, celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversaries, and so the story goes on. I'm sure you get the picture. We have been there for each other. Richard was a very dear and faithful friend. He had many gifts. One that I admired most was his up-front honesty. One did not have to wonder what he really thought. He would let you know loud and clear. He could strongly disagree, but that in no way affected any on-going relationship. He enjoyed a heated political debate. We probably never convinced each other to change our minds. Being open, honest, up-front and frank is one reason I thoroughly enjoyed our friendship and relationship.

Richard and I enjoyed a common interest in old and especially vintage and antique cars, trucks, and tractors for Richard as well. We have attended many car shows, auctions, taken part in parades, various - car meets and local cruise nights. Shirley and Richard kindly made it possible for me to attain my Ontario Car Dealer's License through their Maple Grove Leasing Company and for many years I was able to purchase cars for family, friends, and neighbours. It was a part-time job I enjoyed immensely. Richard took me under his wing and taught me proper procedures and gave me good advice to use around the fast-moving auction block. I could tell you many interesting stories about the times we attended the General Motors' introduction of their new models when we could test drive their cars, S.U.Vs and trucks.

As most of you know, Richard was a dreamer, always looking for a new challenge or one more business opportunity. When the Stone Crock Restaurant closed its doors in Cambridge, the building, where it was located, at the bottom of Shantz Hill, was for sale. It was fashionable at that time for ladies to have their colours done - Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter. Richard said, "We should open an exclusive mens' clothing store and we will do colours for men." No such store in Ontario had done this. We could record their measurements and colours and so their spouses could purchase all their clothing needs. Well over 65% of the spouses already chose their husband's clothing. This could be a great business opportunity. What a dreamer he was!

Shirley, we want you to know, just how much we treasure our times together - over the past 50 years plus.

-with our children at Chesley Lake boating, water-skiing, swimming, playing Stock ticker that continued for days.

-swimming in your pool at the old farm house.

-snowmobiling on the old ridge that led to the Eat and Putt Restaurant.

-Small group trips to New York City, Berlin Ohio, Parry Sound in your motor home and many other wonderful trips.

-Our trips to Laurelville Penn. Centre.

-Bea just reminded me about the summer you and Richard rented our cottage and we took our family in a house trailer to Western Canada and California.

-Last number of years we've spent in Florida have been a highlight.

-Thanks for including us and introducing us to your many MEDA friends.

Our lives have been enriched because of our many adventuresome and rich experiences with Shirley and Richard.

Shirley, I am speaking for each person in our small group, when I sincerely encourage you to be a part of our activities and celebrations. We will continue to support you with our prayers as we remember your family, Ron and Sue, Diane and Dan, Connie and Doug, Steve and Christine, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. They will be there with you.

Shirley, cherish the many fond memories of your happy years together. May God grant you strength to go on and peace to comfort you. Richard would want you to carry on with the same productive and positive attitude that both of you have modeled so well to your family, friends, the church and the community. Bea and I will cherish and remember the last afternoon in the hospital when coming home plans were high on his agenda. God bless you, Shirley, and your family as you go on from this day.

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".....but keep at it". by Allan Dettweiler

It was early in 2005 that I began a project to place Ontario Mennonite families and their ancestors and descendants on a family tree website.
I was beginning with some 20,000 individuals found in "A BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF WATERLOO TOWNSHIP..." by Ezra E. Eby. This 2 Volume set was published in 1895-1896 and contained about 140 different family surnames. So, there was a lot of updating to go from that point in time to the present.
Not too long after, I was at an auction sale not too far from Wellesley, Ontario which Richard Schiedel was also attending. I told Richard about what I had embarked on.
I knew that Richard shared a love of Mennonite history and genealogy (not to mention auction sales). Earlier, he and I and others had worked together to restore the historical Detweiler Meetinghouse at Roseville, Ontario. Richard was one of the key persons who had contributed generously, both in time and financially, to make that restoration project a success.
When I told Richard about my plans for a Mennonite family tree website based on the Ezra Eby books, he replied "That's too big to do". Then he added,"but keep at it".
Well, I wasn't sure what to think of Richard's reply. To me, he wasn't being 100% encouraging - the same time he wasn't telling me to give up on the idea.
As the project continued, it began to sink in just what I had begun. Richard was correct. At many times, It has indeed seemed "too big to do".
There are times when I get swamped, and the project does indeed feel hopelessly big. So, I walk away briefly - then I hear Richard's words ".... but keep at it". I will remember those words always. I intend to heed them.

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Some songs from Richard's Memorial Service

In The Garden

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Wonderful Words of Life

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