My Dad

I thought that today would be a pretty fitting day to write a little tribute to my Dad. I wanted to do it earlier, but just haven't been able to. I love my Dad so much and on this Father's Day I find myself being so grateful for all the years I had him in my life. Now that I have kids I can picture what my Dad used to tell me about the times he would cuddle me and rock me to sleep and play horsey with me and love me. At times I feel like a little girl again and have such an intense need for my Daddy that it actually hurts. I know in time that pain will lessen and I'm actually grateful for it because it reminds me how lucky I am to have such a great Father.

I couldn't have asked for a better Dad and I have so many great memories and so many things to reminisce about and laugh about. My Dad lived to make others happy. I have a lot of memories of people coming to our house and asking my Dad for help in some way or another and he never turned anyone away. My Dad couldn't say no, sometimes this worked to my advantage, but he just wanted to make everyone around him happy. My Dad spent his life serving others and I have learned so many valuable lessons from him. I'm trying really hard to not be angry that my Dad's gone. I have some letters that he's written me and they all talk about how much he loved me and how proud he was to be my Dad. I'm going to miss my Dad everyday, but my goal is to keep his memory alive by being the kind of person he's shown me how to be and that he wants me to be, that way he'll always be proud to be my Dad.

Happy Father's Day Dad. I love you so much and I will always be so proud to be your daughter. Below are some pictures of my Dad with the kids. When I look at them it makes me so sad to know that they will never know their amazing grandpa and I'm so sad that he will miss out on their lives. But, then I feel comforted knowing that even though I'm sure my Dad is busy where he is, he has the time and will take the time to watch my kids grow and he'll get to see and be apart of more than he would have before. There's always those special moments with your kids that you just wish someone else could have seen, and Dad will get to be apart of those moments.

Thanks again to everyone for all of your love and support. So many people were so thoughtful in so many different ways. It really brought me a lot of comfort through all of this and I really appreciate it. I love you all!