Hi Dear Friends,

I meant to post on this website after my dad's party but I just couldn't.  i think I knew it was the final step in a journey I didn't want to end.

The party was amazing. A room that was filled with so much love that it filled us all up to the point of bursting open at the seams.

Then it ended. And life marched on as it tends to do. But I didn't want it to. I wanted the world to halt, to feel the sadness and hurt and love that I felt.  How does life continue when he's gone? Continue to move forward when the most important person is gone?

But guess what? It does. It's continued on for all of us. And it's different, but still great.

Chris and Emily are settled into the house at Little Bay where my parents lives for 35 years. We all swim in the pool all the time and it's just the same as it always was.

Carter continues to excel at golf. Samantha is a star volleyball player. That is all great, but mostly they are interesting, unique, and kind humans and that's all my dad would care about.

Elliott is our little tornado, and I know my dad is smiling at the human he is becoming.

My mom, husband and I recently purchased a house together in Mendota Heights. We Will be moving at the end of the month. We are all so grateful to be together.

This may not be the life we all envisioned, but we are all so grateful. Grateful to be together, live together, laugh together.

So on my dad's 80th birthday, I ask you to think of a fond memory you had with him. Toast him, think of him, do something kind for someone else. Honor the memory of the man we all loved so much. He was complicated and complex, but isn't that what makes the great ones great?

Thank you all so much. For everything, There will never be words to encapsulate this journey we went through, but we are infinitely grateful for every single one of you.

Happy 80th birthday Dad. I miss you so much.