My Daddy left this world and entered Glory on May 31, 2016. It's the day that I feel most happy for him, as after an entire life lived in servitude, he was so ready to meet his Savior. But it's the day that is the saddest in my life. And every day since then has been sadder without him here with me. I was Daddy's little girl. I was Daddy's baby. I feel like my heart was removed the day we lost him. I'm doing my best to function normally, but nothing in my world will EVER be normal again.
I heard my Daddy say my name yesterday for the first time since he died. We discovered an old cassette tape with no markings on it and Derek brought the cassette player home from church so we could see what was on it. When it began playing, I heard my Daddy's beautiful singing voice as he led the congregation in a hymn. When the hymn concluded, Daddy began a sermon. A Father's Day sermon. In the sermon, he actually calls me BY NAME half a dozen times or so. What a gift!! What are the chances that the cassette we found would, #1 Havge Daddy's voice on it, and #2 be a sermon in which he spoke directly to me BY NAME ?! I listened to the entire tape, which included several prayers and another sermon. My eyes are raw today from crying - both with joy at hearing my beloved Daddy's voice again, and with sorrow knowing I'll never hear his voice in person again in this world.
And on this day - August 29th - the 11th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina - I'm exceptionally emotional remembering the Storm as well as the aftermath for our family. I thought we were going to lose my Dad after the storm - I just knew he was going to have a heart attack from the massive amounts of anxiety he felt. But the Lord had us in His mighty hands the whole time. He knew what to do and gently guided us to do His will. And who taught us to listen and obey to God?
My Daddy.
I miss you, Dad. More ever single day.