As most of you know, my dad passed away after battling cancer for the last 18 months on Feb 17th. We found out back in August that it was terminal, so his passing wasn't a surprise, but it still sucks. There's really no other way to describe it. I miss him so much already, but I am grateful for a few things. Now before you think I'm an absolute saint, let me say that there are plenty of things I'm NOT grateful for. I'm not thankful that he's gone. I'm not thankful that my kids are not going to know him in this lifetime, and they won't get to grow up with the most fun grandpa ever. I'm not thankful that he got taken when he was so young. He turned 55 two days before he passed. But there are things I'm thankful for. I'm glad the Lord led our family to Georgia so that I could spend the last 2 1/2 years living right across the street from him. I'm grateful that I found out the cancer had come back weeks before our scheduled moved to Thailand so that I could postpone the move for a couple more months, and then that I was inspired to make a flight to come home days before he passed and was able to spend a little more precious time with him. I'm grateful that I got to have him as a father because he truely is a SAINT. He was such an example of how to love and serve others. He taught me to live the gospel every single minute of the day. He showed me what marriage should be like. And he taught me to play with my children. My heart keeps breaking every day when Maggie asks me, "Where's grandpa?" I really can't imagine him not being here for the rest of my life, but I have to believe that this sadness in my heart will get smaller and smaller with time. I love you, dad.
