The month of June was a blur to me. My daddy went to be with Jesus on Father's Day, June 19th, 2011. We celebrated his life on his birthday June 21st. It was all so fast it still feels like a bad dream sometimes. I was daddy's little girl and my daddy loved me so much and I always knew he did. He was an amazing daddy. I have so many great memories from when I was a little girl and memories from adulthood.
When we lived in Chicago my dad would take me to the local park and we would cut a small branch from a bush or tree and we would use it to catch butterflies. There always seemed to be an abundance of butterflies just flying everywhere. It must have been all the flowers in the park that attracted them. We would pick one that was pretty and catch it. We would then take it home an press it into one of my Disney books. I still have those books and every once in a while I find one and think back to the fun times in the park.
Another thing I loved about my dad is he always encouraged me to thank God for everything. Every time I would tell him thank you, he said, "Thanks God mi hija!" He showed me what true forgiveness and grace was when I strayed from the Lord when I was 19. I came home to confess my wayward ways and he never condemned me or yelled. Instead he praised God, hugged me and told me, "Once you were lost, but now you are found and you are home. Thanks God!" He showed me who Jesus was and I'm eternally grateful!
As an adult he always told me he was proud of me. On my wedding day right before he walked me down the isle he gave me a letter. It was his blessing on my life. I will treasure that letter for the rest of my life. I would go to my parents house and I would sit at the dining room table where he would always be reading- the paper, his Bible, a book, and we could talk for hours about life, God, our family. I will miss those times at the dining table with him. The table is worn where he sat. The last 2 weeks since he has been gone every time I go home I sit where he sat and rest my arms in the same place he did.
Today we scattered his ashes. My dad was a naturalist. He heard from God and spoke to him while he was outside tending his garden and yard. The neighbors knew him as the man always outside watering his yard. He planted trees from seedlings and now they are the biggest trees on the street. He told my mom, brother and I that when he died he wanted to be food for his trees. So we dug holes around all his trees in the front and back yard and spread his ashes to be fertilizer to his trees. It was what he wanted and so we fulfilled his desire. I saved some ashes for the tree he gave me for my home when we moved in and we are saving some to take to a park. He loved being outside, it was where he felt closest to the Lord.
It has been a roller coaster emotionally and I know it will continue for awhile. Lord, I miss my daddy, but Lord I'm so thankful he is with you rejoicing and shouting the victory!! This hymn was one of my daddy's favorites. He couldn't wait to be with his savior and he was not afraid of dying because he knew where he was going. Praise God! I will see him again one day. Thank you Lord.
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
