A Celebration of Love and Family.

Daddy with his three children - January 22, 2016

My father, always "Daddy" to his three children, passed away early yesterday morning. Thankfully, all of us - my brother, my sister, Mother and I - were with him.

He officially enrolled in hospice care just ten days before he died, but he's been battling cancer since 2003. Marc said that Daddy "stole some years from cancer". We are grateful for all the extra years he gave us.

I’m also grateful we had this last week together. My sister came down Thursday before last and asked me and my brother to come last Sunday.  I know Daddy loved having his three children (and Holly!) here even though he couldn't say much. The dark hours - literally and figuratively - we shared with him those last days have only strengthened our family bonds.

I never shared much about Daddy's fight here; it didn't seem like it was my story to tell.  He was a faithful reader, certainly one of my biggest - and earliest - fans. I started the blog in February 2007 as a way to keep in touch with my girls, but it quickly became a support for my parents when Daddy endured radiation and chemotherapy for throat cancer that spring and summer.

And now ... I know I could write for days, but there's no way I could tell the story as well as it deserves to be told. So I'll simply say he lived a life full of love, faith, integrity, honesty, loyalty, humility, strength and family. I miss him terribly, but the legacy he gave me and my family will keep him alive in our hearts forever.

Thankfully, my schedule allows me to stay on here with Mother for a few weeks. She’s been preparing for this mentally for months, but the reality is still challenging. We’re going iPhone shopping and getting a security system installed (not to mention all the phone calls, emails and paperwork that has to be handled). There will hopefully be some cooking, reading, knitting and more alligator sightings to share here. For sure there won't be any snow and I'm guessing that'll be a welcome change for many of y'all!

Thank you all for your support, love and understanding.