Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Six Months

Well, it has been six motnhs today that we lost my dad. Not a day has gone by when I didn't think about him...calling him, texting him, stopping by and hearing his laugh and seeing his smile that brightens up the room. I miss him so much.

This week has been a hard one for all of us. There is so much going on this week that he woiuld have loved to see.

The Super Bowl is in town. Oh my gosh....He would have been so excited to see all of the people and press here. He would not have gone to the game. He would rather sit in his chair at his house and watch it on his tv with his Diet Coke in hand, Just the fact that the game is here was a big deal. He was looking forward to seeing it.

The icy weather that has shut down Dallas/Fort Worth for a week. I can promise you that instead of sitting at home, my family and Melissa's family would have braved the half mile drive to Mom and Dad's house to sit, chat, eat, and play. It was always a good time when Dad was around.

Last, but definitely not least, it's Alex's birthday this week. He will be 2. His party is Saturday. I am so sad that Alex and Hayley did not have the time with my dad that we did. They won't get to experience his greatness. They will only know him through pictures and stories we tell them. My grandmother died when I was six and Melissa was almost 2. I remember a little bit about her. But Melissa doesn't remember anything. I don't want that to be how it happens for my kids. I wish that they would have been able to know his awesomeness. His personality was out of this world. His passion for life and people can't be explained. His love for his family was none that could be matched.

As you can tell, my heart is breaking tonight. I just want to tell him one more time how much I love him and how great he is and how thankful I am to have had him as my daddy.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Bedtime Prayers

When I was a little girl, I never went to bed without my Daddy tucking me in. He would kneel by my bed, read me a story, say a prayer, and kiss me good night. I could not go to sleep without praying with my dad. We continued praying together every night until I was well into my teens (probably 16 or 17). I will never forget that time with my dad. It was precious.

Now, with my own kids, it is precious time for me to be able to pray with my kids and tuck them in each night. We do it a little different in our house. We make a prayer circle. The four of us get in a circle and hold hands. Then we pray together. It is sweet to see my babies say their night time prayers. Tim takes one to bed and I take the other one to bed. The next night we switch. Hayley told me the other night that she couldn't go to sleep if we didn't pray together. It took me back to my chidhood, waiting for my dad to come pray with me.

I am so blessed. I will always have that time with him. My kids will always have that time with me.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas 2010



Christmas this year was not the same. There are many traditions that were different.

On Christmas Eve morning, we always gather at Mom and Dad's house for breakfast. Dad cooks. He always makes eggs, omelettes (cooked to order), bacon and sausage. We open presents from each other and hang out until naptime. This year, we met at Melissa's house. We all brought something to share. There were no omelettes. I made bacon in the Jetstream. We opened presents, talked a little and went on our ways.

Christmas Day (today) was different in that we met again at Melissa's. (It was nice, just different.) She made the turkey and cut it. Dad always helped and tasted tested the dressing. No taste tester. :( There is always a lot of chatter and laughing. Not so much chatter. Quiet people sitting around staring at a picture of a man no longer with us.

Our Christmas was good, but different. Our past traditions are changing to new traditions. Our normal is now a new normal. We have made it through one Christmas without Nick. We will have more. He is not with us in person. But he is always with us in Spirit and memories.