A Christmas card from my dad

We had our Christmas gathering at my mom's Monday and as soon as I got there my older brother gave me a note. He said Daddy had told him what to write and he just wrote it. It read,

To my favorite, Perri,

Thank you for all the love and care you've give me over the years. You are a wonderful mother and daughter. I wish for you a great life filled with joy, just as you have made mine. Merry Christmas and Remember Always, I love you. Dad


Of course from that moment on, after a good cry, my tears were just ready to brim over the rest of the evening. Just before we got there, we had eaten lunch with the Spaulding family before they left for their move to Virginia, so it was already an emotional day.

Capping it off, my mom gave me photo albums filled with pictures of my kids as babies -- and Pappaw was in so many of them. He was such a part of their lives. Some made me laugh - such as the one of Andi on her big wheel IN the wheelbarrow and Pappaw pushing her around the yard.

Anyway, I'm glad that day is over. I don't remember much of it except that I spent all day trying to appear happy when inside my heart felt like it was tearing into pieces.

Moving on -- I will be painting the living room within the hour. Pictures later.