In Memory---My Dad

This coming Sunday marks the 4th anniversary of my dad's death. I can't believe how much time has gone by without him. However, I am equally amazed at the amount of time--minutes even--that thoughts of him pass through my head or the small things that trigger memories. He is constantly with me in thought and deed. Like any child, I continue to work towards the goals he wanted for his daughter.

His life was one of service and example. He dedicated his life to helping others. He'd never ask for money or favors--he just believed in good works. My mom often said, "Lots of people can write checks to help others, but your dad gives his back." He worked hard and I never heard him complain.

He taught and stressed financial security. Both my parents made wise financial decisions and when he died --without warning-- my mother was able to retire and live comfortably. I'm so grateful for his foresight and wisdom.

He would have loved my children. The daily agony for me is that he can't be a part of their mortal lives. My prayer is that he knows them.

I love him and miss him so much. My heart aches to know him as a grown-up daughter--separate from the young adult that he left. I'm now a wife, a mother, and most of all--an adult. I think that makes a great difference in the way we would interact now. I mourn the loss of the relationship we would have had. I feel he would be pleased at the family Russ and I have built.

He continues to teach me to have patience as I wait for our reunion, faith in Heavenly Father's plan for families, and empathy for those that walk through death. At one point in my life, I knew death was hard, difficult...all those catch phrases we use on sympathy cards. But now I know that when a person loses a loved one-- an empty hole remains that cannot be filled, just manuevered around.

Thanks to my dad's brother, Mike, I have great pictures and footage from films made by my grandpa when my dad was younger. This has been a great gift to me. I've attached, along with some of my favorite dad pictures, a video of my dad scouting. My dad is the one on the right and my uncle is the little boy in the middle. I love how my dad helps Mike with "proper" cub scout ettiqutte.

His headstone reads,

"Families Are Forever."

I know this is true.