I Love You Dad

Since my last post so many things have changed in my life. Starting with the sudden passing of my dad on June 8th. I could hardly believe what I was hearing when my cousin came to tell me that my dad had passed away. One of my biggest fears had just came true. I wasn't ready for my dad to go, but are we ever ready to lose a loved one. Once I gathered myself, I had this tremendous feeling of peace come over me before I started to feel alone and lost in this world once more. My dad wasn't only my dad, he was my best friend. A day didn't go by that we didn't talk...I sure miss those conversations. Something will happen and I will say I have to remember to tell dad that when I call him.

My family has been awesome. My husband has helped me through this, we have leaned on each other every single day since. It still feels a bit like a dream but then I realize that I am not dreaming when I feel the tears well in my eyes.

With strength that I never knew I had helped me through the planning of the funeral, the phone calls that had to be made to family and friends. My faith helped me through this time as I know God and Jesus were with all the way and still are with me.

After my dad passed I prayed to God to let me know that my dad was safe in Heaven with my mom and that he was happy. The next morning I got the answer to my prayer when I phone my best friend in Flin Flon. Kim told me of the dream that she had of my dad on Sunday night, that he was in the most beautiful meadow you have seen. The wild flowers were absolutely breath taking and the smelt like non she has ever smelt before. My dad was walking hand in hand with a younger woman that Kim didn't recognize, they were laughing and talking and dad would stop to pick more flowers for this lady. Kim said he looked so happy. I asked him if this lady had dark hair and glasses which she said yes she did and she looked to be near 40 years old. I told Kim that was my mom that was with my dad. Kim told me after she arrived at our place that as my dad and this lady turned to walk back to where they came from with a basket full of flowers my dad stopped turned around and looked at her and told Kim, tell her I love her, then he smiled and winked as he walked away with my mom. Kim confirmed that it was my mom when she arrived on Wednesday when I showed her a picture of my mom. Kim's dream was the answer to my prayers.

Saying good bye to my dad was the hardest thing I had to do in a long time. I know we will meet again, I would have loved to have given him one more hug and told him once more that I loved him. That is one thing we always did was tell each love we loved them at the end of very visit or every phone conversation because you never know when the last time will be.

I am very grateful that my dad didn't suffer, he passed very quickly and painlessly and very peaceful.

Rest in Peace Dad, I Love You.

Heart Health

Since my dad took a TIA (Trans Ischemic Attack) aka Mini Stroke in December I have re-evaluated my lifestyle.

I always new that to be healthier I needed to loose weight but I had never done anything about...I guess you could say I was in denial. Well watching what happened to my dad scared me and really made me open my eyes and look at my own self and re-evaluate things.

I received an email this morning from Promise - Love Your Heart. There is some really good information on this site and the links provide information that I am finding useful. I have book marked this link and plan to look more closely at the information. One link that caught my mind was in on under the food guide area and it was about how to shop in the grocery store for your health. There are many other good articles on this site as well.

Follow the link below to

http://www.promisehealthyheart.com/

It seems more and more I hear of younger people having heart attackes and having serious heart problems. Take care of your heart, it is the only one you have.

Memories

I have received many pictures, stories, handmade gifts & cards over the years from my 3 children. I have saved many of these over the years and look back and remember the day Michael drew that dinosaur or the stained glass vase (tissue paper on a baby food jar) that Brittany made me for Mother's Day that still sits on my dresser or the card Meagan made me for my birthday. They all bring back many wonderful memories.

If you’re only giving your children cards and notes on “special” days and holidays, you’re missing out on a wonderful opportunity. On occasion I have wrote a letter to my children maybe to settle a disagreement that we had. Sometimes it is easier to explain what you mean on paper than in words. Other times it is just to tell them that I love them and treasure the times we have together. Sometimes it is a quick note to wish Meagan luck on an exam in school, or to tell Michael and Brittany to have a good day at work and of course the I Love You's.

I have many memories in my heart to draw on. I always enjoy going through the pictures that kids drew as they were growing up for the silly poems they wrote on the cards they carefully crafted for my birthday, Mother's Day, Christmas or just because.

Sometimes memories are all we have left....take the time to make them.

Love The One You're With

Today as I was heading towards the check out at WalMart a display of books caught my attention. One book more than the others seemed to stand out to me "Love The One You're With" by Emily Griffin. I am not exactly certain as to why it stood out so much to me. Maybe it had to do with a phone call from my youngest daughter, whose heart was hurting for reasons she couldn't quite explain. Of course it is boy troubles..... I read the jacket of the book quickly and set it back down as I am watching where I spend my money. For some reason the title of this book has been in the fore front of my thoughts since I walked away from the display of books.

As I thought about it I thought of questions that I could ask my daughter so she could think about things in her relationship with her boyfriend. Like can you truly love someone that makes you feel insecure more than secure, makes you scared to tell him what is really on your mind because you are afraid he will end the relationship. Do you love how he makes you feel? You see Meagan and her boyfriend broke up May 1st and were back together by the end of the May long weekend. They have gone from one extreme to spending too much time together to the other extreme of spending hardly any time together. She has to search her heart for what is right for her. It is always the hardest when it is your first love and you feel that you will never find another person to love or that will love you back.

This also got me to thinking about my relationship with my husband and how wonderful it is and how lucky I am that we found each other. I look forward to Friday nights when he is back home from work and dread Monday mornings as I know it won't see him again until Friday. We talk each night even if it is just to tell each other how much we love each other.

At once heartbreaking and funny, Love the One You’re With is a tale of lost loves and found fortunes—and will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered what if.

Have you ever wondered what if? I think most people have; but you can't live on what ifs you have to live with what you have and Love the One You're With.

God loves us. If we live in love, it serves as a sign that God lives in us.
We are capable of love only because God loved us first.

I John 4:16-19

Family Time

My weekend started out on a good note and ended the same way. Friday night around 7:30pm my son arrived at the Relay for Life. It was nice to see him....I gave him the biggest hug I could. Even though I miss him every day I am so very proud of him and happy for him.

Saturday Michael and his dad were out golfing until they got rained out on the 7th Hole. Even in the rain they had a great time together and both realized how much they miss each other even though they won't admit to it.

Sunday afternoon Michael and headed into PA. After my meeting we called my dad to invite him over for supper. He told me that he would pass as he was feeling tired....make a long story short, I put Michael on the phone and dad agreed to come for supper. Off to Safeway's to pick up steaks & corn on the cob. When we turned down the drive way both Michael and I start to laugh as my dad is already at my house waiting for us. We figured he knew Michael was home that as soon as he hung up the phone he grabbed his hat & car keys and was off to our house.

Michael and made an awesome supper enjoyed by all. BBQ'd steak - done to everyones liking, backed potato, ceasar salad, corn on the cob & ceasar salad. It was great for us to sit down to a wonderful supper as a family.

Family time is so very important. A time for us to share in each other's lives and build more memories to last a lifetime