This year has gone by so fast. But as I am sure you all know my daddy is gone. He lost his battle with lung cancer on June 30th, 2008. He lost the battle but he has won the rewards in Heaven. The weekend of his death was very sad. We all were there with him. All weekend his eyes were rolled back in his head. He was in pain so Hospice said to start giving him his morphine every 2 hours. As the weekend progressed he just got worse. The most precious thing I witnessed is Landon holding his papa's hand all night long on Saturday. My neices and nephew would sit in there with him. Landon would not leave his side. Looking back on it I know he glad that he was able to do that. On Sunday morning he started that dreaded rattle. We all knew what it was. I didn't want to face the facts that my daddy will not make it. He just slept (I am sure he was in a coma like state). Hospice said that he could hear us and we need to continue to talk to him. The family took time to sit by his side. He was able to tell each one of us he loved us. Each of us had our time with him. My uncle Ralph, my dads twin brother, came to be with him on Saturday. He just cried but daddy looked up at him and said, "hey buddy". They sat together for awhile. Later on that evening around 9pm Hospice came and sat with us. They told us to be prepare to lose him around 11pm. We all (Mark, Steve, Gayla, Dale, Shannon, Misty, Darlene, Charlene) were gathered around his bedside. My brothers and sister and I held our hands together around daddy. Daddy was not able to talk anymore after that Saturday night but he would barely nod his head when we talked to him. Hospice stayed in the room with us and watched daddy. Well, 11pm came and he was still with us. Hospice just kept watching him. Around 11:45pm they quietly walked out of the room. They knew what was coming. Daddy's eyes were closed but a few seconds before taking his last breath his eyes opened wide and looked at Gayla, then Steve, then Mark, then me. As he was looking at us we just kept saying we love you daddy, go find mama she is waiting for you. It seemed that he smiled and then he drew his last breath. I never have been with someone at the time of their death. I can tell you daddy was ready. He fought for over a year and now he is in the arms of Jesus.
I love you daddy and I miss you more than you know but I know one day we will see each other again.