Three Years…In Heaven

↣ ↣ ▲▲▲ ↣ ↣ Disneyland ↣ ↣ ▲▲▲ ↣ ↣

Last Saturday marked three years since I last spoke to my dad….and the day he entered into the presence of the Lord.
[original blog posts here, here & here]

I remember June 15, 2010….like it was yesterday. I vividly remember the phone conversation I had with my dad- just hours before he took his last breath. He was driving….I knew he didn’t seem “normal.” I asked “on a scale of 1-10 how are you doing today, dad?”….and his answer was 7. Right then and there…I wished so badly that 3,000 miles weren’t separating us. He was in Las Vegas. I was in Nashville. There was nothing I could do…..but pray and call him back after a photoshoot that I was driving to. My dad was always a 10 or higher. He was a 10 on a bad day and an 11 on a good day. Hearing him say 7 was alarming. I knew he just didn’t want his daughter to worry about him.

Fast forward 3 years….and every anniversary has felt different and has met me with contrasting emotions. Last year I was weeks away from having my baby and this year….I have a son. Ezra will meet my dad one day in Heaven, but unfortunately will not experience life with him on this earth. This saddens me. My dad would have been the best grandpa ever. I wanted so badly for him to be here in this season of life with me. Even though he is not here…..in a way that my eyes can see….he is here in a way that my heart can feel. There are beautiful qualities about my dad that often come to my mind, which push me to be a better business owner and an intentional mom. This is what I choose to focus on….

↣ ↣ ▲▲▲ ↣ ↣ dad holding me ↣ ↣ ▲▲▲ ↣ ↣

My dad left a rich legacy for me. He had a heart for people…and this truly influences the way I run and operate our family business. Death was not the end to my dads story. His life continues to influence me and the decisions that I make. How awesome is this? This definitely makes me consider how I am living my life. It’s not just about me.

Each moment. Each day. Each year that passes by does not push me farther from my dad, but closer. I am thankful for the Hope we have in Christ. The promise of Eternal Life.

I am thankful to be planted in a House that speaks truth on this matter. To give you a glimpse into what our pastor often says on the subject of death is this:: “Death is a lot of things and comes a lot of ways, but tragically it is often a surprise. The way to truly live is to be prepared to die.”

I can’t end this post without asking you if you know God. This is a serious question…and THE most important decision you will ever make. If you can’t answer this question….please click here.

I miss you, dad.
XO.