MegBeck

If you were privileged enough to know my Aunt Rhonda, you may have heard these words when she greeted you, especially at a family gathering, "Come here so I can suck your face!". Now, that may be entirely too straightforward while starting off a tribute to my dear aunt; but that was Rhonda, straightforward, with just the right amount of love and comic relief mixed together so perfectly, to make even the grumpiest of men, or a crying toddler crack a smile. Her presence made a family gathering that would otherwise be considered just ordinary, extremely special, because Aunt Rhonda was in the room. Half way through my sixth grade year Rhonda, and my cousin Justina moved just down the road from us on our family farm. Although this was a trying time in the Becker's life with the loss of my grandmother and a complete life change for our families, the selfish part of me is so grateful for that move and for all the memories acquired because of it. There was no better way to grow

Grandpa said right before this photo was taken, "Alright, my first selfie!" Winter 2016 Grandpa's hands. I thank God for them. Grandpa's hands have carefully carved out thousands of intricate, yet sturdy pieces of wood which are placed carefully around each of my family members' households. Some of us sit inside walls that he built, others can look at those walls and see beautiful frames he's carved out from old barn wood, which carefully hold our families legacy inside the four corners surrounding that moment in time. Still others, will hold a carved out wooden toy, sit at a desk, open wooden drawers, place items on his shelves, and walk across wooden floors that grandpa's hands have wisely molded together to create for us a home. To sit and reflect on each masterpiece he's created leaves a grieving family member in grateful awe at his talent. After 32 years of life, I still have in my possession the dresser he built when I was a baby. This dresser ha