My Daddy

Today is my Daddy's birthday.  I've been thinking alot about him lately.  There are times that I still think "Oh!  I should call Daddy and ...." I miss being able to call and talk to him.

I am so thankful that Elianna and I got to spend his last month and a half with him.  Some days were not easy.  I missed being home but knew when I did go home, it was because he was gone.  I felt so guilty for wanting to go home.  One of the best memories of that time was when Elianna would go in to tell him goodnight.  He would be laying in the hospital bed with his eyes closed, not really moving or talking.  But when that little girl came in and kissed his cheek, he always opened his eyes and smiled at her.  That little gesture meant so much to me.

Elianna has what some would call a strange or morbid childhood.  She has grown up around cemeteries.  When asked, she can name off the people she knows in Heaven "Toree, Papa John, Opa, Kalei."  When we were on vacation, we visited Toree's grave, my grandpop's grave, and my great grandparent's grave.  It's not weird to her.  For which I'm thankful.

I'm so thankful that Daddy was there when we found out Toree was sick.  He was there for her funeral.  He came Thanksgiving the year Elianna was born.  It was right after that that he found out he was sick. I'm so thankful Elianna and I got to visit him in February after his first surgery.  To visit him for his last Father's Day.  To have that last Christmas with both him and Kalei.  And, of course, to spend those last few weeks with him.

It makes me smile to think of him in Heaven with my sweet little one and Sissy's sweet little one.  A granddaughter on each knee.  Happy Birthday Daddy!  I love and miss you!