Smile4me-4ever...

My Dad

In Loving Memory of My Dad. He may be gone but will never be forgotten.

11-20-45 to 4-10-06

The greatest gift I ever had...Came from God; I call him Dad!

~Author Unknown~

This is my Dad!! He was my first love! My dad was the best, he was always there to cheer me on. He always told me how proud he was of me and how much he loved me. My father passed away April 10,2006. It was the saddest day of my life. I miss him terribly. There is not a day that goes by that my heart doesn't ache for him. He is the most wonderful man I will ever know and I am so thankful that I called him Dad. I don't know how I got so lucky but I am very thankful I did. He is and will always be one of the best things to ever happen to me. I wouldn't be who I am today, if it weren't for the love of my Dad! My Dad, My Hero!

My Dad and Jason

My Dad and My Son...what a great Grandpa he was...my son called him "PA" Jason and Pa spent alot of time together when Jas was younger. He was so proud to be a Grandpa, and it showed in everything he did or said, and each and every smile he had on his face. They would work in the garage together and ride the tractor together, and when Jas had his kids jeep they would race around the backyard, having tons of fun. They used to go for rides, with no destination, but with the goal of spending time together, just talking. My Dad loved to talk, he loved to laugh and he loved to make jokes. He loved trivia and oldies music. He and Jason would listen to the oldies on the radio and answer the trivia questions from the radio. Jason enjoyed that, he couldnt wait to be right and Pa be wrong. Didnt happen to often, but occasionally Dad guessed wrong so that Jas could be right. Jason and Dad had a great relationship, they shared many things together. I know he misses my Dad, but honestly I think it made him put even more love into my mom. Not that there isnt already, Jason has the relationship and always has had with my Mom. It's wonderful and he's had it since the day he was born. I think Jason seen the relationship between Chris and Pa and I think at times he may of wished he had them moments with him, but knows how he feels cuz there the moments hes felt with my mom. Jason brings up my Dad alot and I know he hurts for him and misses him alot but sometimes I fear he wishes they had more or that he did more, but what he needs to know is that Pa understood that you were Ma's boy, you loved him and he loves Ma the way Jason does so he understands why Jason is closer to her, but is making sure Ma knows how much he loves her and needs her and hows shes gotta be here. When my mom gets sick he freaks and I think his fear is that something will happen to her, cuz he dont wanna lose her. Jason has wonderful memories of his Grampa and it really sucks they didnt get the future we all wanted to have, but I am convinced that he will always be here in our hearts and if we keep him alive in our daily thoughts, we can always have a piece of him after all....we are a piece of him, without him, we wouldnt be who we are and we would never of loved the one we miss!I love you Dad. Thank you for Mom and ty for Jason... I am proud of who I am and who I have become because of who you were and who you will always be and for all you have done for me to lead me to where I am..and thank you for loving and giving my new family a chance to become your family, we all miss you!

My Dad and Chris

My Dad and Chris...Chris didnt get alot of time with my Dad. He is Duanes son and came into my dads life when my dad had his leg problems, so there wasnt much getting around and doing things, but that didnt stop my Dad from forming a relationship with Chris. I can tell you neither of them expected to have the relationship that they received. I believe in the beginning it was they had to learn to tolerate one another because of the situation they were in. They tested one another over and over, they had words many times. I really didnt think my Dad liked Chris and I was sure Chris didnt like my dad. Boy was I ever wrong. Once they got past there stubborness, they became like a Grandpa and Grandson are suppose to be. They would just sit and talk for hours, Chris would confide in my Dad when he couldnt confide in anyone else. He would just sit in the chair across from my dad and talk and laugh. I was so thankful to see there relationship become what it was. Never did I ever imagine the closeness they would share. Chris shared a relationship with my dad based on trust and love and respect. My dad understood Chris and he seen a part of himself in him that he never shared with Jason. Chris learned to trust his Pa in a way that he hadnt trusted anyone before. It was so wonderful to see on both of there faces and even harder to see now on Chris's face when I know how much he's still missing his Pa! I feel it too, I shared with Chris how much it means to me that he misses my Dad so much. That means he loved him as much as I loved him and he got to know my Dad, we missed out on many years, hes not my child and for him to have loved my father as "his" grandfather, is the most wonderful feeling I have ever had. Just rips my heart out cuz I know what his heart is feeling. Which leads me to....

My Dad and Duane

My Dad and Duane...I see in his eyes to many times how much he misses my Dad. I really never realized how much he still misses my Dad. Many things bring him quiet in thought and sometimes sadness, many times laughter *haha* They shared great times together. They really had a great relationship. They talked sports together, they cooked together, Duane took him to Drs apts and sat with him during the day, not cuz he had to, but cuz he wanted to and he was able to do that, cuz he too couldnt work due to hand problem. Mostly cuz he enjoyed spending time with my Dad, he really liked my dad. I dont think I would be stretching it to say that at one point, I think my Dad and him fell in love *haha* I dont mean it how it sounds, but the moment you first fall in love with someone is when you complety click with them, you totally get them, your not reserved, your trusted and its a wonderful feeling. Maybe its just me, its a wonderful thing anyways when two people really connect for the first time and realize they love someone and that someone be someone you loves father. Duane didnt have that type relationship with his father and to have him have that with the man who raised me, who guided me and loved me through thick and thin have loved him the same way, means the world to me. Its once again sharing something we never shared before and its something wonderful to share. Makes ya feel good inside. Makes me love Duane even more and I am glad my Dad got to finally see the man Duane is and why I fell in love with him. *story of how it used to be