Trusting In The Lord For All Things: Gone, Favorite, Cards

Today 34 years ago my dad died of cancer. It started in his lung and traveled into the rest of his body. It's been a hard day for me, hence this is late. This picture was taken early in so we'd have a beautiful photo of mom and dad. We also had family pictures taken at a photographer so we'd have all of our family in the pictures, including Gramps. He was the patriarch of the family. We had pictures of dad with friends and neighbors taken as well.

Dad went ahead with the chemo and suffered greatly. He said there was nothing worse than wanting to do something and not being able to do it because you were too weak or you felt horrible.

He said if he were to do it all over again, he'd enjoy the time he had left doing what he wanted until he couldn't do it any more. He'd have had a better quality of life.

Life changed dramatically when he died. It's never been the same. It changed Mom so much, she was not herself again. We lots both parents that day.

I guess you can't expect that kind of loss not to affect the spouse who is left.

I miss you so much Dad. I wanted to share so much with you. I wanted to see what kind of grandfather and father-in-law you would have been with Tim. So much lost when God called you home.

This is my favorite bird who visits multiple times in a day in our garden. The hummingbirds love the butterfly bushes, sage, lavender and sugar water in the holder. I still get excited when I see one in the garden.

This is made for a challenge where you had to bring joy. I have to smile each time I see him. Isn't he just the cutest little boy? My friend Jan had this stamp and after I saw it, I had to buy it too. He's brought joy wherever he goes.