Today, like most days, I find myself taking a moment to celebrate.  Not a moment to be sad,  but a moment to remind myself that I was and am lucky.  Lucky enough to have a man in my life that was head over heels in love with his wife.  A man that showed his kids every day that he loved them and they were one of his greatest accomplishments.  This is the man that got angry with me when he knew I could do better, but still let me at times fail but held my hand as I picked up the pieces.   He taught me compassion, a love for all living things, to enjoy life, that nothing could compare to a night at home with your wife and kids, we're never too old to learn something new, to go above and beyond, to stand my ground, and that every now and then a girl just needs to go fishing. 

I'm grateful for every moment I got to share with this man.  When our time was cut short I made a decision that when I started to feel sad and miss him I would remind myself that I was lucky.  Lucky to have him in my life even if for a short amount of time.

Happy Fathers Day Dad!
Love,
Forsythia

A mural painted in my dad's honor at Moose Tree Nature Center - Lake Orion, MI.

The kids & grandma in front of dad's wall.