This morning was the best day of dad's amazing life. He had slept well and his breathing had slowed into a nice gentle pace, reflecting the peace he was finally feeling. Here's a brief account of the morning.

As the sun lit up the blue sky, I opened the shutters wide to let the light fill the room. I walked over to dad and said to him one of our standard pre-flight greetings, "Good morning dad, look at that sky. It's a blue bird day and a great day for a long flight." I think I heard this blue-bird saying before every flight for the last 40 years. After reading a passage in Isaiah and having a prayer together, I felt compelled to assure dad that I had all his affairs in order. Knowing he might be a bit worried, I let him told that we had everything in place and would be fine so that he was free to let it go and not worry. Then I called our daughter Rebecca and while talking with her and watching dad slowly breath, I suddenly realized that he did not inhale after his last breath. I stood there shocked not believing what I was seeing. I told Becca about it, leaned down to listen for a breath, placed my hand on his chest to feel for a heart beat and there was just stillness. No breath, no sound, no motion. Quiet, still, peaceful is all I experienced. 

As my tears broke and my voice unable to speak, I realized I was only seeing this side of dad's life. What I was not able to see but knew was happening that very moment was dad, Charlie, Chas, Dan, Uncle Dan, Granddaddy, Big D, brother, friend, best friend walking into the splendor of paradise. I don't know if he was walking through a meadow of the brightest flowers or an alpine forest at the foot of some heavenly peaks. Or perhaps he was walking into a palace of incomparable beauty. But what I do know is that for the first time in his life, he was standing face to face with Jesus Himself. Embraced in the arms of Christ, he has heard, "Welcome home, Dan, my son and brother. Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into your paradise." Dad is healed, pain-free, and having the best day of his life. 

And we are here, together. May the pain of our loss be comforted by our memories of dad, some shared time together in some way in the days to come, and the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus. 

With love, 

Steve