4 LONG years

Today marks 4 years since I held my daddy's hand as he left this world behind. So much has happened in that time.  Some of it  would make him proud, while other stuff would have broken his heart.

I miss him.  Every day.  There are times I still cry when I think about him.  Times when my first thought is "Daddy would have loved this." He's never far from my mind.

One day this week as Keegan and I took a little rest, I spent an hour telling him stories of Pappaw.  I told him stories of how we would go camping and roast marshmallows, fly kites, ride bikes, play army men and cards.  I told him how we would walk and hold hands, tell jokes and laugh at things together. I explained how I knew how to do so many different things because Pappaw had taken the time to show me. I told Keegan it didn't matter what we were doing, whether it was fun or not, I enjoyed it because I was with my daddy.

I told him how my daddy would take me with him places and we would have long talks in the truck,  play in the yard and work together on projects.  I told him how much he loved ice cream and animals.   And his family. 

I told Keegan about how much Pappaw loved him ~~ even though he only got to see him a few times, he loved him and always would.

Keegan, always intuitive, asked me if I still got sad that Pappaw lived with Jesus.  I explained that I was sad he wasn't here with me, but so happy that I knew he lived with Jesus and we would live together again someday.

He laid there quietly for a moment and then he said, "You know what, Mamaw?  Your daddy and my daddy are so much alike, I think they must have been brothers."

And you know what -- he's right.  Jacob is an amazing dad, he's patient and kind.  He's fun and loves to spend time with his family.   He makes them feel safe and they know he loves them.

We are so blessed to have him in our family and Sophie and Keegan are certainly blessed that he is their dad.

I know Pappaw would be proud of the man he has become.  I certainly am.