Really? Really...

Three weeks ago, one of my dearest friends, Donna...lost her brother. It was not a sudden death, but rather a journey that their whole family was a part of. They had a couple of weeks together surrounding him at his bedside. A truly remarkable story and one that will tug at your heart. He died with dignity and surrounded by his family...hearing the story (not being there), I would assume the feeling of love and admiration for him was palpable in that room for those couple of weeks. What an amazing story of love, friendship, and a family's unwavering love.

Today, I got a call from Donna. I was surprised to see her name on my caller ID at this time of the day...it was unusual for a weekday. Within the first few words of our conversation, I knew something was not right. I could hear the pain in her voice immediately. She was calling to let me know her dad died. Immediately, my heart sunk as I listened to her tell me what had happened. It was an unexpected death. And just 3 weeks after they buried their beloved brother and son. Seriously?! Really?!

Dear God,
Isn't this just a little bit too much to ask of one family? To just begin to grieve the loss of their brother and son...and then to have to start this whole process over again to say good bye to their father and husband? I don't get it. I don't understand. It seems so cruel. It just isn't fair. No one understands the reasons...but please wrap your arms around them as they try to understand and make peace in their hearts of all this loss and sadness. May he be peaceful and blissfully happy...in heaven.

Amen

Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers. This will take an enormous amount of strength to get through...

Dad's are pretty special people. They are a little girls first love. They seem invincible...powerful...strong. My dad was always a bit mysterious. Emotionally tough...that is what I remember anyway. I always knew my dad loved me...even if he had a tough time showing it sometimes. I have lots of fond memories of my dad. Here are just a few...getting to take the staples out of the bottom of his work boots after he got home. He put his feet up in the recliner and we'd get a screwdriver and pry them out. Sometimes he'd let us take off his boots too (but we had to be careful not to tickle his feet). He took us out of the boat all the time to fish. After we were done fishing he'd make huge waves and we imagined we were driving over whales. I remember catching crayfish and having huge feasts. I remember the special gifts he'd go buy us for our birthdays. He usually put them in huge windshield boxes. I remember all the trips up north to the cabin. He would buy us liquorice, boston baked beans, burnt peanuts. I remember the years spent building our house at the lake. He built it himself. He knew I really loved this little pick-up. He fixed it all up for me to have in high school. I loved my little white Chevy Luv pickup (4 speed on the floor:). He was always there when I needed him. He still is always there for me and my family. Now we are making a host of new memories and I am eternally grateful!! Because Donna doesn't get to say all these things to her dad anymore...I love you dad! Thank you for being the greatest dad in the world!