LOVE u POPS

It's sad that it takes someone to leave this earth to realize ALL the great and wonderful things they have taught you. Most of all to realize the ENORMOUS amount of love you have for them despite the arguments and growing you happened to do. Three years gone, has it really been that long? It seemed like just yesterday that I had rolled over in bed with my BIG pregnant self hearing the words exchanged over the phone with my Mom and my Dad's band manager. My stomach still drops over and over again when I think of that night. knowing that my Dad was not going to be here much longer, just by the look on my Moms face when she was telling me the news. The next two weeks were a blurr. I think about the last time I saw my father... And all I can say is I wish I would have hugged him a little longer, talked with him more instead of rushing out of the house. But before I left that evening he bore his testimony to me. He was always baring his testimony to us kids. Every chance he got! He told me I was a daughter of God! And I needed to not feel shame and hold my head HIGH. I was feeling shame for being pregnant and the situation I was putting the family through. But my Dad could careless what anyone thought of me. He knew who I was despite my mistakes. I am a daughter of God and regardless of our faults our father in heaven will always love us the same. My dad taught me a valuable lesson that night. No matter how much people talked or how many heads turned... I will always be a daughter of God!!!

Thursday would have been his 54 birthday... three years and 4 grand children later I know he is proud of each of his children. He taught us well. I Love and Miss him GREATLY!But like my brother told me while he was serving a mission "I am the luckiest missionary out here, I'm able to have my Dad by my side all the time." Just like it was for him I to am the luckiest daughter in the world I'm able to have my father by my side all the time! So as I'm celebrating my father's birthday this week I will be remembering all the things that I am forever grateful for!