Just Another Day...

I have to put down some thoughts into words today.  Yesterday was my 56th Birthday. I had things on the calendar so I kept busy.  That meant when I laid down to rest, my mind didn't stop thinking.

The day started with an early Birthday greeting from my dear husband followed by the news that his father, the quiet, giant of a man who with his loving mother raised him to be the man he is, had spent his last night on this mortal plain.

 For the past 36 years he's been my Father too.  I'm grateful for his example of perseverance and gratitude for all that he was blessed with. I cannot remember many times that he didn't express his gratitude to all of us for the many blessings he enjoyed.  He told us that Family and our Testimony of the Savior was the most important part of  life.  Being  part of an Eternal Family is a blessing that remains with us.  There will be an empty chair at our gatherings from now on, but the memories will linger. All we take from this life is our intelligence and the relationships we had.  He didn't go to College but he was taught through all his life the importance of an Education. He was a well read, hard working man.  One of the saddest parts of growing old was losing his ability to read. I remember we gave him books for his birthday and Christmas among other things. He loved reading the Scriptures and Historical books.  

We'll gather as a Family to say our last goodbyes for a while.  Gone from this world- Forever in our hearts.