Two Years

I just can't believe it's been two years since you went to Heaven.  Not a day goes by that I don't miss you and think about you.  Oh how I wish I could just see you right now! Are you sitting by a lake? Maybe you are making something out of nothing with your hands ~ you were so good at that.  You could always take any old thing and make it useful again.  Or maybe you're whittling.  Or eating Ridgewood BBQ.  Or drawing that little dog you used to draw for me every Sunday during church.  If I could only see you draw that dog one more time...

Of course, there's the selfish part of me that wants you here with me.  I so badly want you to see my children grow up and experience life.  I want them to fish with you.  I want them to work in the garden with you.  I want them to learn from you the things you taught us all so well...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  You taught us those every day just by the way you lived your life.  

Even though I long to have you here with me, I know where you are.  I have such peace in knowing that you are with Jesus, completely healed.  After seeing your health decline for several years, I am overwhelmed with joy when I think of you walking (running!) around heaven with no limitations, no medicines, no walkers, nothing to hold you back!  

When I join you one day, I can't wait to talk about old times.  I really believe we'll have our memories in Heaven (the good ones of course).  And we sure have a lot of memories, don't we?  Christmas, vacations (I got my love of Myrtle Beach from you), lake, teaching me to drive, church, camping, and just memories of everyday life.  

The day you went to Heaven, my perspective about life changed forever.  I now have experienced a loss that I never even began to understand before.  Everything is different.  Nothing will ever be the same.  Nothing.  Thank you for treasuring Jesus and your family above anything else.  Thank you for loving us unconditionally.  Thank you for simply being you.  I'm so grateful.  I love you Daddy.

"He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less." 2 Corinthians 5: 5 (The Message)

Happy New Year!

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind."  ~ C.S.Lewis

Happy New Year!

Making Memories Of Us

Speaking of my buddy Keith (on the other blog), I am reminded of a song he sings that I love.  It's called "Making Memories Of Us".  It kind of has a special meaning because every time Brian and I hear it we think about all the times we look at each other and say, "Just makin' memories baby, makin' memories".  Even though we sometimes just say it to be silly, other times we really mean it. 

I LOVE traditions.  If we do something the same way more than once, it's a tradition.  Granted, some of my need to do things the same way over and over again may just be my obsessive compulsive nature.  Honestly, I just want our children to remember all the special times we have together.  Some of these may include family traditions, but some may just be every day stuff we do together.

Brian and I have always committed to keep more emphasis on experiences than material things.  Sure our kids have MORE than their share of toys, but I hope when they're all grown up they don't think back and say, "Wow, those were some great toys".  While I want them to be thankful for everything, I really want their memories to be filled with great family time...a fun vacation, a day trip, a play, a park, a ballgame, playing games at home, cooking dinner together, birthdays, reading and praying together, playing in the yard, just hanging out.

So if you hear us humming that little tune every once in a while, it's just a reminder for us that we're trying really hard to keep makin' memories of us.

A Year

Dear Daddy,

I can't believe it's been a whole year. I still miss you so much and think about you every day. I look forward to the day we are together again.

Love,
Doodle Bug