Today marks 6 months since dad has passed.  Man do I miss him.  His laugh, his advice, his hugs, his constant show of love and support for our family.  His popping by just to see what I am up to or what project I might need help with next or just sit and visit.  I must say my windows have never been this dirty in all the years I have lived next to dad! 😂 

As I sit back and reflect on the last 6 months, It still seems surreal, I still think, did this really happen? how could it be 6 months all ready or oh, I gotta ask dad about that, and I need to ask him where X is?  But he still shows up, I know he is always there with me.  I see him in rainbows that just happen to appear at the right moment or a song comes on the radio at the perfect time. I see him every time Ellie drives up in his element.  I know he his with her or when I took Hanna to school and a beautiful orange butterfly landed on the stack of boxes we were carrying up 3 flights and just stayed awhile as if to say he was there with her and us as we moved her into her new room.  Or the butterfly that landed on mom's heart as we were enjoying time outside.  He is there and he is with us.

It's amazing how a death can change things.  Big Changes, small changes, changes in friendships, the masks we wear and even just stupid little things.  The stupid things seem to be the ones that sneak up on you the most. It changes your perspective of life that's for sure.   

I think everyone in the family including mom are hanging in there, doing the best we can.  Some days are harder than others, but we are living by our mantra ONWARD!!  I know mom loves hearing from each and everyone of you.  It brings her strength to know people are still there, including her and care about her. So thank you for reaching out to her and to all of us.

So as we continue on with this day of "6 months", I choose joy, I choose to remember the good times, the stories, the laughs.  The times when dad would "gift wrap the garbage" as we would tell him when he overdid what he was working on or when he would ask the girls if they had seen the mountain gorillas and was the cat in the hat going to have to show up with his black bag to clean their rooms. 😁 All the kids lives he influenced during his time as a teacher, principal and bus driver and all the yellow legal pads/notebooks he used to make the pros and cons.

What's your favorite story of dad?  Make us smile, remember and laugh!

I leave you with this, thank you for caring, hug your loved ones and your friends, reach out, and be there for each other.  Be the things you loved most about the people who are now gone.  Be a Leader!

Onward...
Sara