Condolences

I just want to thank all the amazing people in my life that were able to come to my Fathers Funeral, and/or just share with me their sweet memories they have of him. It was a beautiful service, he was an amazing man. Like i said, in my previous post on it all, I miss him terribly, but the comfort knowing he is no longer in pain, and with God will have to be good enough. I must say that my husband Andy has stepped up to the plate and helped me through this all tremendously. I am so happy he was able to meet, and bond so well with my dad. He loved Andy so much, the moment he met him. (doesn't everyone?) Andy just had a a way with him, even when he was really sick, which always gave me such comfort.

I will forever remember our Last Dance at my wedding Dad.. thank you so much for holding on for that (:

a getaway with my valentine

Andy & I went to Bodega Bay for the day.

The weather was perfect. Our excuse? Valentines day? (:

This is my little mermaid rock ..

My mom told me i loved Arial as a little girl and would sing on our

rock we had in our pool waterfall, & pretend i was her (:

Andy & I drank wine at Sunset on the bay, so romantic, so beautiful

Kind of blurry, but that's us on the deck of
gourmet Au bay. wonderful place!

Wine tasting in Sonoma County, so fun!

I LOVE that we could spend all day everyday just together, and have an amazing time. We don't need other people to fill the silence (: Its such an amazing feeling to have this with him. Best Valentines day yet ..

January 20th, 2010.

My dad was a wonderful man. Always patient and loving with his family, and would do anything for any of us. He had a happy go lucky personality and even stayed positive throughout most of his treatments. He had a "can do" attitude and was determined to beat his cancer.

Unfortunatly towards the end of his life he wasn’t really himself. He was very aggitated and had lost a lot of that fighting spirit that I always knew him to have, and it was difficult at times to look past his surface to remember the person he really was deep down. I had to intentionally recall so many wonderful memories with him in order to remind myself of who he really was and not what his illness had turned him into. The experience brought me so much closer to him because it felt as though I had the opportunity to live those memories all over again and it was a true healing gift from above.

There’s an Alan Jackson song that says, "Its not what you take when you leave this world behind you, its what you leave behind you when you go". My dad left behind his legacy. His family & friends, and his children. Inside each of us are the things he taught us, his kindness, his humor and the memories that we will protect and hold in our hearts forever. I grew up a little more throughout my dad's illness. Experiencing uncomfortable situations I didn't think I could handle, and learning to love a little deeper. It changed me in a good way and will remain a part of who I am forever. A part of him lives inside each of us, and we will hopefully pass those qualities on to our own children so that his legacy continues.

I miss my dad, and I always will. He left this world too soon. But I find comfort in the knowledege that he knew God, and he is with Him in His house today. No more hospitals, shots or treatments. So when I cry, it's really for myself and my own loss, because where he is cannot compare to our world. My prayer is that he stepped out of his hospital bed and into the arms of his Maker and heard the words "well done my good and faithful servant"

I LOVE YOU DAD.