Dedicated to Dad....

Coaching the Ellis Railroaders in the 3A State Championship Game.

I post these pictures today in rememberance of my dad...aka as our Superman! One year ago today our lives were completely turned inside out and shaken all around. I really don't think that today is much different than yesterday or tomorrow. Every day is hard without him and I miss him terribly each and every day!

I have so many good memories of our family and all the fun times we have had together. These pictures only reveal a fraction of the fun we had and how much Max and Maddie loved him. This picture of Maddie is one of the two of them sitting on the back of Joe's truck in the garage and GD was cracking the sunflower seeds open and handing Maddie the seed! Now only a grandparent would do something like that right?

The picture of Max is where the "boys" went to Denver to the Bronco/Raider game. Max got his face all painted up and they tailgated. I can remember my dad coming home at 2 in the morning just laughing b/c Max was all that saying "oh I am going to stay awake the whole way home!" They pulled up in the driveway to let Uncle D out and Max jumps up and says "See I told you I would stay awake!" He had fallen asleep just coming out of Denver & slept the rest of the way . I can still remember my dad laughing about that!

I will say...as much joy as they brought him in the oh so ever short time they "hung" with him...he brought them the same amount of joy! He really was our SUPERMAN!

I love the pictures of him coaching because that was so him. He gave it 150% everytime he hit that court and expected nothing less of those boys he was coaching! He also expected that of Shelly and I although he sometimes never got it! I just wonder looking at this picture...where did you get those shoes???? We always did give him grief about his clothing options!

February 2008

The past year has been about as hard as I would expected it and here one year later I am still sitting here with tears streaming down my face writing this. I know this is a pain that will never go away it will just ease with time. I only know this because I have watched Joe the past 17 years. I cannot even begin to know how my mom has held it together...during the illness and over the past year. I think we need to dub her Superwoman! I know she doesn't want us to see her sad but I know each day her heart breaks but she thinks of the good memories and carries on! I will always cherish the above picture. It was taken at my birthday party just 4 days before he got sick. W e were all togehter & we had a great time and of course we were dancing!

I will end this post by writing that the hardest part for me so far is just not having him here to experience all of Max and Maddie's life events. I know he is up there with a front row seat and always on their shoulder but somedays I cannot be but selfish and think...that just isn't good enough! You know they say that a parent should never have to lose a child but as a child I am thinking that it might just work the opposite way also!

February 1967

I am going to leave you with one more picture. I had the best parents (yeah, that is me with my mouth open!) in the whole wide world. I know almost every kid makes that claim but I think that I actually speak the truth! LOL! I had the best of the best childhood filled with love~ laughter ~ a lot of living and isn't that what it is all about? If you are reading this and you knew my dad...today think of a good memory of him.

Also know this....if he knew you...you were considered his friend!

I have to add a side note...how appropiate that we celebrate GD's life by eating enchildias tonight for supper! If you ever got to eat them then you know how good they were...well my mom has nailed the receipe. See dad, she was listening all those years! To top off being together tonight and telling "GD" stories we are also going to CELEBRATE! Maxwell Thomas made the Sophomore team @ Northwest! WOW...see that sun shining today...that is GD smiling! WE are all very proud of Max but not very happy that he has kept us wondering the last two days! So...our winter schedule has been planned! Go Grizzlies!