Go with me!

I am nervous about writing this particular post. I am so worried that I won't do it justice but I feel that it needs to be written. Please, Lord, give me the words.

Tomorrow will be 8 years since my father passed away. This is the story of the gift that he left us in his last hours on this Earth...

Hospice was called in. He was brought home from the hospital so that he could die his way...with dignity...in his own bed.

On January 10 around 12:30 a.m., it started. He woke all of us because he had a story to tell. A story that would take almost 4 hours. He would talk a little and sleep a little.

He asked if we heard the train. "Woooo...woooo...woooo!" He looked at my mom and said "Well, I guess that I had better get on". When the ride ended, he was at the bottom of the mountain. As he exited the train, he looked at all of us and said:

"This is the most beautiful place that I have ever seen. The flowers are every color of the rainbow. The sky is the bluest that you have ever seen. The smell is like nothing that I have ever smelled."

"There is a cherry tree. It's been blown down but it still smells so wonderful."

"Do you hear that? The angels are singing. The sound is like candy to my ears. I can't believe how magnificent this is."

My dad always had an amazing way of telling a story. Everyone wanted to hear every word. He took you to that time, that place, that feeling. This time was no different.

Our spouses were called in...knowing that his time was coming to an end. He started telling them of the beauty that he was experiencing. "Oh, and the women...they are gorgeous...hoochie, hoochie" Now, as much as I know that this is inappropriate, I felt the need to add it...because...well, if you knew my dad, then you understand. He could always appreciate a beautiful woman! We all got a good laugh from that.

When he got to the top of the mountain, he could see a huge feast at the bottom but wasn't quite sure how to get there. About that time, he said "Oh, Bubba is here . He is going to help me." Bubba was my cousin that died when he was about 17 years old.

As they walked, my dad talked about the people and things that he would see. All of the people were acquaintances that he had met throughout his life, but not family members. When he got to the bottom of the mountain, he talked about the long line. He said "Well, I guess I should get in line."

Another thing about my dad is he LOVED to cook. He LOVED food! He loved to cook for others. While he was standing in line, he kept telling us about all of the foods that were on the feast tables.

Then...he was there...at the "pearly gates". He stretched his arms out in front of him, looked at my mom and said "Oh, Patty...he's gorgeous. He's reaching his arms out for me". My mom told him that he needed to go. But he couldn't...

My dad loved life...he loved us...he loved God. He still had one more thing to do. He loved to talk to people about Jesus and how much He loves us. He would witness to anyone that would listen...and even those that wouldn't! This was his final witnessing moment...

He looked at each one of us individually and said "Go with me!" At the time, we thought he was scared because he didn't want to leave us. We told him that he had to go alone. He kept saying..."Go with me!" Each of us told him that we would come but at another time.

Finally, he started talking about loved ones that he saw. He saw his dad and mom. Then he got very emotional. He saw her...and she was whole...and she was healthy. "It's Joy. Mom has her." Joy was his 1st daughter that died when she was 3 days old. She had a birth defect. Doctors were unable to save her.

We all told him to go, we would be alright, and would see him again. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. It was the most emotional moment that I have ever had the privilege to experience.

With that, he closed his eyes and passed over.

Some people wonder if there is a heaven or a God. Because of this GIFT that my father gave me, I KNOW there is a heaven and a God because I got to experience it. When my dad was asking us to go with him, what he meant was "Make sure that you go with me. Make sure that you accept God as your savior".

He loved us so much that he wanted to be sure that he saw us again. I think that he loved us almost as much as God does. That's a whole lot of love.

I tell this story because I think it needs to be told...

and also to say...

"Go with me!"

Memorymaking

Tonight I asked my oldest daughter, Lauren, what one of her favorite memories was? She said it was the time that my mom and I took her sister and her to Gatlinburg. Then I remembered "The Picture".

I had to find it!!!

Now, look a little closer...

As you can see, it's probably not her sister's favorite memory. Lexie did NOT want to ride that roller coaster but she did it anyway.

I have been with my husband for 16 years, and I love how he tells the same stories over and over. Occasionally (or should I say rarely) he tells a story that I have never heard. Usually, though, it's the same stories. Like the time that his family got a cat. This cat apparently had some emotional issues, and his mom told them that they had to get rid of it. So, she piled her kids in the car, drove down to the pet store...here's the funny part...my husband got out of the car with the cat, opened the door to the pet store, tossed (gently) the cat inside, ran back to the car, and they took off!

Some of my favorite memories are like little sniplets of time in my mind: watching a volcano explosion on my honeymoon in Costa Rica, having lunch dates with Lauren before Lexie was born, and snuggling on the couch with Lexie when she was 3 watching her favorite show, Lazy Town. Lexie talks about those snuggle times often. I think they are her favorite memories also.

For me, memorymaking is about family, friends and love. We don't always set out to make a memory. They often happen when we least expect it. They become etched in my mind and on my heart. I feel warm and fuzzy when I talk about these times in our life.

Memories make a life...good, bad, or indifferent. Everyday we have an opportunity to create a story that makes up our life. My goal is to create a long list of memories for those that I love...that write a story of a life full of love and lived to the fullest. I hope that I instill these feelings in my children too.

Live a life full of memories...

Get on that roller coaster...even if you are scared to death!!!

What is your favorite memory?