MY FATHER, MY FRIEND, MY LOVE!!

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT READ MY BLOG, SEVERAL BLOGS AGO I WROTE A LITTLE ABOUT MY FATHER THAT PASSED AWAY TWO YEARS AGO FROM LEUKEMIA AT THE VERY YOUNG AND VIBRANT AGE OF 43. I AM WRITING AGAIN BECAUSE ON MAY 19TH 2007 WE HAD MY FATHER'S BURIAL SERVICE IN HIS HOMETOWN OF MUNISING MICHIGAN AND WITH THAT DATE APPROACHING VERY QUICKLY I FELT INSPIRED TO TELL EVERYONE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MY HERO WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT MY FATHER IS AND FOREVER WILL BE TO ME!! MY FATHER LOVED CHILDREN (NOT JUST HIS OWN) HE WOULD RATHER PLAY WITH THE KIDS OUTSIDE THEN BE INSIDE WITH THE REST OF THE ADULTS. HE TAUGHT SEVERAL OF THE BOYS IN MY FAMILY HOW TO PITCH FOR BASEBALL, HE ALSO LOVED TO PLAY BASKETBALL WITH THEM. MANY PEOPLE SAID MY FATHER SHOULD HAVE WENT PRO BUT THE ARMY GOT TO HIM FIRST. WHEN I WAS LITTLE MY FATHER WOULD MAKE OBSTACLE COURSES IN THE YARD AND I WOULD DO THEM AS FAST AS I COULD AND WHEN I TIRED OUT HE WOULD A GREAT SNACK TRAY WAITING FOR ME. HE OFTEN VISITED ME AT SCHOOL (EVEN THOUGH HE WORKED THE THIRD SHIFT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESTING) HE ALWAYS SAT WITH ME AND MY FRIENDS AND ACTED REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE HAD TO SAY. EVEN AS I GOT OLDER MY FATHER WAS STILL THAT ONE MAN I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON, HE NEVER HAD A HARSH WORD TO SAY ABOUT ANYONE AND ALWAYS GAVE THE BEST ADVICE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A DAY SINCE HE DIED THAT I DO NOT MISS HIM AND WISH HE COULD BE HERE WITH ME AND MY CHILDREN. CANCER IS SUCH AN UNEXPLAINABLE DISEASE. JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE CONCERED IT, IT SEEMS TO CONCERE YOU!!! I DIDN'T REALIZE CANCER WAS SUCH A HORRIBLE DISEASE INTIL IT TOUCHES SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU. WATCHING HIM FIGHT TO LIVE EVERYDAY FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS GAVE ME AN OVERWELMING FAITH IN GOD THAT I HAD NEVER KNOWN BEFORE, AND WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR MY FATHER TO DIE, HIS DEATH WAS VERY PEACEFUL AND FILLED WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. I WILL NEVER FORGET THOUGH THE LAST TIME MY FATHER WOKE UP BEFORE HIS DEATH. HE LEANED OVER TO ME AND SAID I KNOW WHAT I FORGOT AND HE KISSED ME ABOUT 20 TIMES AND CLOSED HIS EYES!! I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT I WAS HIS LOVE AND HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN MINE!! I AM AND FOREVER WILL BE DADDY'S GIRL!! I WILL DEFINITELY BE POSTING MORE ABOUT MY FATHER SOON, I HOPE I CAN GIVE COURAGE TO OTHERS BATTLING CANCER THROUGH THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES I HAVE OF MY FATHER AND HIS LAST DAYS OF LIFE!! HE WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY FATHER, MY FRIEND, MY LOVE!!