Comments on PHILOSOFICKLE: "...but showing love to a thousand generations of ...

I am sorry that I have finally read this post. As...

2011-07-27T00:29:04.927-04:00

I am sorry that I have finally read this post. As I read it I was caught up in memories.

It is amazing what one can do for one's family. When you start to figure in all the Novak's, marry-ins, and grandchildren, we have all in someway or another cut our teeth roofing.

Here I am (along with my eldest uncle, my cousin, and my two brothers) still shingling in our summers off. Now a new generation has indeed cropped up - Alvin's Great Grandchildren are now spending their summers on the roof.

Almost all of us grandchildren have worked the summer roofing to help pay for college in one way or another.

It is a source of pride when someone comes up to us and states 'I think your grandpa shingled our roof'. In fact, we were shingling a house in Sartell and a neighbor kept badgering us about how his house was done better. After he found out that Brad was Grandpa's son, he just laughed and said "who am I to tell you how things are done - you learned from the best!"

I will take this from my experiences handed down from Grandpa and Grandma:

With hard work you will persevere,
Education will make your work easier,
Family is always family,
and
Faith will get you through.

Wow. I gotta be honest, Matt -- I typically woul...

2011-07-06T00:11:27.095-04:00

Wow. I gotta be honest, Matt -- I typically wouldn't read your blog, assuming it would be all about your political views, but this one was definitely worth reading!! A wonderful tribute to a wonderful man and his family. Nice work and thank you for the reminder. I have no doubt that your own children will tell the same stories about you someday. :) Amanda

I am not an "official" facebooker.. SO.....

2011-07-01T12:16:09.370-04:00

I am not an "official" facebooker..
SO.......it is unusual for me to ever comment on anything, but my brother Bryan who is Matts dad forwarded this on to me..I appreciate that because there are some things that EVERYONE should read and there are certainly things that we should not forget! And I think none of us will EVER forget how hard dad has worked all his life. Thank you Matt for putting in words what we all know but do not talk about. We truly are a very blessed family, and you Matt will be able to share with your grandchildren the work ethic of their grandpa Novak as I don't think anyone can hold a candle to him not only in how hard he works but also in how easily he gives of his time to anyone who needs it, much like his dad did.
Thank you for reminding me today to give thanks for the strong family ties that God has blessed us with. Now that my eyes haved dried and I have bored you to near death I am off to finish mowing!!! Aunt Barb

Dido. I don't get paid a ton of money to do s...

2011-06-29T22:24:39.845-04:00

Dido.

I don't get paid a ton of money to do social work, but I try to remember my parents when someone congratulates me for what I do. "That must be so hard doing that kind of work. I could never do that!" My work is challenging. But it's what I want to do, and that makes it easy. Both my parents have worked jobs their whole lives that wasn't their first or second choice and worked many long hours in doing so. That is hard.

You need to stand on someone's shoulders...Sho...

2011-06-29T20:46:09.422-04:00

You need to stand on someone's shoulders...Shorty.

Just kidding! This was a beautiful tribute to your family work ethic and is, frankly, a sentiment I can relate to. The Lewandowski's were no slouches either, and my own father is a prime example of that dedication to working hard that you so aptly described.

I read this and cried. Grandpa read it and smiled....

2011-06-29T11:37:16.018-04:00

I read this and cried. Grandpa read it and smiled.He only knows hard work. It was a beautiful tribute.Thank You.