CAN'T BE SAD WATCHING A CUTE LITTLE GIRL JOYFULLY BOUNCE

Grammie got these bouncy balls for Christmas and my kids LOVE them. They love them so much they often fight over whose turn it is to bounce on them. Which means the bouncy balls are often in timeout. There isn't a day that goes by really that one of the four youngest aren't bouncing around the house.

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A friend of mine showed me a study "guide" for kids to use for their scripture study with the "Come, Follow Me" program. We finally started using them this week by introducing it to them during Family Home Evening. As a family we completed one of the activities (a fill in the blank). They have a JUNIOR and a SENIOR primary manual*. The kids REALLY enjoyed the activities, which include: a scripture that they have to fill in words, word searches, crossword puzzles, mazes, handwriting practice, and more. Each activity focuses on a different scripture, so the key points in that week's lesson are touched on. We even have the older girls work on the activities from the Senior Primary book. 

*This is not an official church sponsored book. Someone most likely from the church made it, bound it, and put it up for sale on Amazon.

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Six years ago today, one of the greatest men I know passed away all too soon. He touched so many lives and I am forever grateful that of all the people he helped in his life, I get to call him "dad". He was, and still is, such a force for goodness, kindness, finding those teaching moments, loving fiercely, living joyfully, full of faith in God and His plan, he had a quick wit, great senses of humor, competitive yet fair, talked a bit game but always made sure everyone had a good time- usually because he was cracking jokes the whole time.

There are days that I wish I could call him up to talk, see how my mom is really doing (she's like me and won't really tell you how's she's doing until she's falling apart), or to get some advice or counsel. I have actually gone to reach for my phone to do just that only to realize that it's not possible. 

The true tragedy is not his too short life, but that his grandkids won't truly know the man I know. They will only know him through stories. My sister, Erin, always way more elegant than I, said it best:

It is my heart’s greatest sadness that my children, for the most part, will not remember their Papa. They won’t remember him taking them to their games, reading to them, taking them to the playground or on adventures. They won’t remember how he did science experiments with them, dyed eggs along side them, built a play-set for them, worked in the garden with them, suffered through their cartoons with them, tossed them in the air, was an expert first aid giver, hiked them on his shoulders or taught them little nuggets of life’s wisdom. He was THAT kind of amazing grandpa. It hurts me that they won’t remember that. But I do, so I remind them.

I often tell them about how funny their Papa was and how they get their adventurous spirit through him. I tell them how good he was and how he was always up for a lunch date. He was someone who made life feel rich no matter the circumstance. He was thoughtful and giving with his love, service and time.

In Arlington, where his remains are, there’s a very limited amount you can have engraved on the stone. We chose, “LIVED, TAUGHT, SERVED, LOVED”. Those 4 simple words describe his life so perfectly.

He truly lived. He had an adventurous and curious mind, always learning more about what was around him. He didn’t waste his time here. For a military man who was often gone for many months at a time, I don’t remember him never being there. He made his time count.

My dad was a born teacher. He talked, people listened. He could weave anything into a learning experience. He was quick and sharp; He inspired.

Pops was definitely one who served. His country, his family, his fellow man, his God. His life was serving those around him. I often feel like my life blessings are nothing if those around me aren’t feeling those same things. I got that from my dad. He got, he shared.

Oh man did my dad know love. He was born into a family that loved each other, he married a woman he loved dearly and he built a family that he loved more than anything in this world.

The pain of losing someone never seems to go away in my experience. However, looking back it’s easier to see the plan, the blessings surrounding the pain, the people lifting you up along the way and the impact that person has made on your life. It inspires me to live my life honoring him and what he gave. So, on this day, I recommit myself to LIVING, TEACHING, SERVING, and LOVING more than I have before. I can’t think of a better way to honor one who has given me so much than to enjoy this beautiful life I live which is greatly do to my dad.