Jonny Boy

Well, this is long overdue, and will probably be a couple posts to complete. But most of you know that my dad past away this past January. January 26th to be exact. And although I lost a mentor, a friend, and true role model that day, I know that my life has been forever changed not by just the life I got to live with him, but even moreso the experience of his last 2 years in his preparing to leave this world.

So yes, this will be a little deep, and spiritual, but hopefully moving in the same. As that is truly why I want to share. To motivate just like my dad loved to do; to inspire all of us to give it our best, not to receive glory, but because it’s the right thing to do.

In giving, there is receiving,
In love, there is loss,
Yet in losing, there is growth.

All these statements ring true in my relationship with my dad over the last 2 years of his life. We definitely loved, we gave a lot, and we lost. But in the end, it was worth it, and we definitely came away with more than I could have imagined. :)

It started one day with my dad whispering in my ear, "I think I'm dying" and pinnacled with a hand reaching out in love.

To put it lightly, it stunk seeing your dad waste away to nothing. A man that you looked up to in everything he did, who loved you through thick and thin, to be reduced to what we as humans would call "weak". However, in his "weakest" human hours, I truly believe that he was the strongest of his life, showing that no matter what this world gave to him, he would be ok. He knew there was more to life than what this world has to offer, far more.

My mom and dad told me a long time ago.... you know, this stinks, but you know what, "these are the cards we've been dealt". So when we placed my dad in the assisted living complex 3 years ago, we all knew it was going to be ok. It stunk, but we knew we'd be ok. Having to make that decision was probably the hardest decision I may ever have to help make. And there were many, many, many difficult nights, difficult days, questioning, crying, and more questioning. But through it all, the times I would go on to have with my dad behind those secured doors, changed my outlook on life forever. So the walls that I felt were locking my dad down, actually opened up my heart to a grace and gratitude and love that I've never experienced before.

I'll leave it there before this post gets too out of control, but want to end this post with a tribute to my dad that I wrote for him, well, 2 years ago now……Some of these statements can have dual meanings I guess, but are written truly to inspire and lead us to be our best out of true love.

Things My Dad Has Taught Me
(Mostly through his actions, but also in perceiving his life)

- It’s ok to fall
- In order to live life to it’s fullest, you need to take some risks
- There’s no substitute for passion-it’s what makes life worth living
- Go after things you desire
- Crying is ok-it means you are passionate about something
- Life could always be A LOT worse
- Be thankful for what you have, not just physically
- Be compassionate
- Don’t judge, cause sometimes you really just don’t know
- We are all extremely blessed, we just aren’t always extremely thankful
- Love is stronger than anyone can ever believe
- Life is tough, cherish what you have when you have it
- Don’t wish, dream and work hard
- Faith is special and we can all use A LOT more of it
- Some of life’s true blessings are found at the end of your rope
- Sometimes the challenge is all you need
- Friends truly are angels without wings
- It’s easy to disagree, it’s trying to truly understand the other viewpoint that can be so tough
- You don’t know until you try
- There is no one like your dad