A time to give thanks

I have to stop apologizing when I don't blog as often as I should, but with so much going on, I can't help it! I feel like I should be shouting to world how thankful and blessed I truly am! I do want to say thank you to everyone who kept my family and me in their thoughts and prayers during the last few weeks. It honestly feels like it has been much longer than just 3 1/2 weeks since my dad died. After the initial shock wore off, I tried to do some soul-searching. After all, he was my dad and I discovered that he loved me very much and was loved by many. His funeral service was beautiful--definitely the most moving I have ever attended. The CEO of St. Jude spoke highly of my dad, and a cousin on my stepmom's side of the family told funny stories that each of us children had written down. I had written the story about Dad trying to kill my mom and me as he about drove off the edge of the road leading up to and back down from Pike's Peak. Cliff told the story about damaging the garage door when he was 16, only to cover it up from Dad and until the day of the funeral, Dad never knew about it. During the service, we all laughed and cried, then laughed and cried some more. This is one of those moments that I can't wait to scrapbook, but I do have other priorities first--a particular Christmas present for someone special (I can't say who b/c he or she might read this!).

Because Todd and I had already planned to go back to Dad and Pat's for Thanksgiving, we did just that. Even though Dad was no longer around the house, we knew he was a part of our celebration. It was during this time that I got to know my step brothers and sisters and that side of the family a little better. I knew we were "family" in the sense that Dad had married Pat and she had grown children of her own and those children had children, and so on...but the Thanksgiving after Dad's death made us connect more than we ever had. I loved being called the "little sister" and my brother was able to be "little brother" as well. We are all still a family and will continue to be one without Dad. This is the part that surprised me the most, but I love knowing I have more family than ever!

Below are some pictures from the funeral and family photos after the graveside service:

Everyone always said that I look like my mom (I don't see it), but I had Dad's hands--big knuckles and all.

Dad loved his job at St. Jude/ALSAC more than any other job he had ever held. Anytime we saw him he was wearing something that advertised for St. Jude. It was only fitting that he was buried with his latest pin and all the men of the family wore one of his ties to the funeral.

Pat made sure, in everything that was done for Dad, that Cliff and I came first before her own children.

All of us "kids"--we felt like the Brady Bunch in the picture--3 boys and 3 girls!

This is a picture of all the kids with each spouse or significant other. Don't we all look perty??

A sad night

I know this is not the post you requested Kodi, but it' s a post I have to do. I'm not sure how or why I am posting this just yet, but I wanted to get all of this down before this moment left. I found out tonight that my dad passed away last night in his sleep. Although we had our ups and downs, I still loved my dad with all my heart. I think I am still in shock, considering my sister-in-law just talked to him yesterday, and Todd and I saw him a couple of weeks ago here in town. Looking back, I thought it was strange that both my stepmom, Pat, and my sister-in-law, Terri, called me tonight. Neither one of them told me about Dad because they couldn't or didn't want to tell me over the phone, especially knowing that I was home alone while Todd was working. Todd came home around 8 pm, came straight into the living room, turned off the TV, then broke the news that my dad died last night. I think I broke down right then and there because I just couldn't believe it. Todd told me that Terri had called him at work and told him to get home to me because my Dad had died in his sleep last night and he had to be the one to tell me. Apparently, Dad was up in KC to visit some donors of St. Jude. He went to bed last night, as usual, but when Pat called him this morning, he didn't answer his cell. She called the hotel and they said he never checked out. A manager went to his hotel room to check on him and found him still in bed, head on his pillow, covered up with the blanket. No foul play...just died in his sleep. I guess that's the best way to go. I am thankful he didn't have to suffer after everything he's been through this past year. My brother, Cliff, is going over to Memphis tomorrow and is supposed to call me with news of funeral arrangements. I am playing it by ear until then. I am not going into school, even though that would definitely get my mind off of this news for a while. I know I probably wouldn't be any good tomorrow or Thursday. Luckily, we are out of school on Friday, but I was supposed to be at a speech tournament this weekend. Now those plans have changed as well. I know there is never a good time for someone to die. I guess I thought I'd just be much older when I had to deal with all of this. Are you supposed to bury your parents when you are this young? I guess only God knows His plan for each of us. I do wish Dad would have lived long enough to hold a grandchild from Todd and me, but now any future children will have to look at pictures and hear stories of their Papaw. I may have to think some more about this situation before I post again, but I would like to post a tribute blog to my dad. If nothing else, at least to get the words down so I can use them later when I include this story in my scrapbook. Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts in the past. I know they will be just as important now. God bless!