Good bye Pop… I love you!

Some of you know that my father unexpectedly passed away this past Thursday evening at the young age of 59 years. I first want to thank all of you for your well wishes and for keeping us in your prayers! Your love and support is greatly appreciated by my family and I. It’s times like these that a person really finds the value in the friendships that they have developed throughout their life. Thank you all so very much!

I have been going through images trying to get a video slide show ready for the funeral and I can’t help but smile as I see so many beautiful memories pop onto the screen. However as quickly as a smile fills my face, it just as quickly transforms itself into tears as I realize that the opportunity to create more beautiful memories with my father is gone. I already miss him more than I know how to express in words.

In a situation such as this, I could either choose to reflect on all of those beautiful moments that define my relationship with my father or I could shut myself off and lock myself in a room and sulk. Well, if my father were still here he would not want me to sit around wasting my time being sad. Rather he would want me to be a good example for my children and he would want me to be strong for my mother and all my siblings.

As many of you know, my family and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Yellowstone and Jackson Hole this past September. I am extremely thankful that both my mother and father were able to share that experience with Becca, the kids and I. I am so grateful for that time that we had together and that my children were able to spend all that time with their pah-poo!

Rather than list all of the many things that will sadden me about losing my father I decided to list all of the wonderful things that I am grateful for. I quickly found that I couldn’t include everything because the list was so long.

I am grateful that my mother and father were companions for the past 34 years.

I am grateful for all the hunting and fishing trips that I spent with my father.

I am grateful that I was able to tell my father about our unborn child before he left us.

I am grateful for all of the wonderful meals that he prepared for us and the recipes that he perfected over the years.

I am grateful for his short buzz cut that would tickle my lips every time I kissed his head and told him goodbye.

I am grateful for all of the times that I heard him say “I love you”.

I am grateful for every time that I wrapped my arms around him and told him “I love you”.

I am grateful for every time he kissed Bentley and Ayden.

I am grateful for the example that he was in my life, I wouldn’t be where I am without him!

I am grateful for all of the lessons that he taught me.

I am grateful for his generosity.

I am grateful for his patience.

I am grateful that he taught me to be respectful.

I am grateful that he didn’t put up with me being stupid.

I am grateful for all the things he didn’t give me.

I am grateful that as a teenager I got to spend so much time with him on our family’s boat.

I am grateful that he taught me how to respect firearms.

I am grateful for all of the Sunday’s that we watched football together.

I am grateful that he taught me the meaning of responsibility.

I am grateful that he met my mother.

I am grateful that my mother decided to marry him.

I am grateful that he approved of my wife.

I am grateful that he loved my children.

I am grateful he is my father.

Dad, I’m really going to miss you but I find great comfort knowing that I will see you again. I thank the lord for putting me in your life and you in mine.

It pains me so much to say these words here instead of to his face…

Good bye Pop… I love you!

Here are some recent images of my Pop. I have some older images that I will probably post over the next couple of days.

My two favorite guys on the planet! This is my favorite picture of Ayden and dad together.

Two sharp dressed men.


A quick snap of the kids with Nana and Papoo on our recent trip to Jackson Hole.


This one puts a smile all the way across my face!