Dad

This is the last picture that I have of my Dad. I miss him a lot, but we are finding peace. His health went down hill rapidly after returning for AZ and seeing Stephen off on a mission. He was needing care 24 hours a day, and he hated to see my mom, brothers and I stress over it. None of us begrudge him. We were all happy for the time that we had to spend with him, and happy to do anything that made him more comfortable, or put a smile on his face.

My Dad was my first best friend, and I was his princess - that is something I have always known. I knew that he was proud of me, and I knew how much he loved me. He always encouraged me to reach for the stars, achieve my dreams because I could do all that and more.

My Dad loved to golf, he loved everything about the game, and lived for his next round. Dad would play, rain or shine, and always come off the course happy. His golf game fluctuated a lot over the past 12 years as we went through various stages of fighting cancer, but he always returned, and loved it more each time.

My Dad loved to get together with family and sit for hours talking about whatever there was to talk about, and there was always laughter when he was around. Even in the months before we lost him, he would always make his best effort to get together even though it was very difficult for him to do physically.

I LOVE my Dad, and I know that he wants me to be happy. I know that he is still very much supporting me, and wanting me to do the best that I can, and disappointed when I make a poor choice.

On Sunday September 25th we lost my Dad to Cancer. He fought a courageous battle, and he held on for us. At 3:30 in the morning my Mom was told to gather the kids. She made the phone calls and we all went to the hospital. James had gone to the hospital with my mom, and John and I were able to be there shortly. Eric started the trip up from Lethbridge with a couple of my Mom's sisters, and James girlfriend Marly started her trip down from Edmonton. He was able to speak to Stephen on the phone and and tell him that he was proud of him, and that he loved him, and he held on for every one of us to tell him how much we loved him. He died surrounded by his children, with my Mom holding tightly to his hand at 8:30. The pain is still fresh, and we have shed many tears, but we are surrounded by friends and family that are lifting us up, and helping us to keep going.

Tomorrow is a new day, we will find a new normal and life will go on, but we will always remember, always remember the laughter and love of my Dad.

There will be a funeral service held for him on Friday September 30, 2011 at the parkland chapel 14540 Parkland Blvd SE at 11 am. The family will be there at 10 for anyone wishing to speak to them, and the service will be followed by his internment at Mountain View Cemetery.