Another Party In Heaven

One week ago today, heaven threw yet another party. This one was for my Dad. Stephen and I were talking about how amazing it will be someday to step through the pearly gates and see all of the loved ones who have gone before us and to hug everyone "first". I know that when Dad stepped through, he was greeted by his grandparents, my Grandadddy, Stephen's Mom and Grandma Bishop, my Papa and so many other wonderful family and friends.

I am really happy for him. Really, I am. I am so happy that he will never have to have another blood transfusion or receive chemo, or go to a doctor's appointment, but I am so sad for us. We are the ones who have to keep going without him and it is hard. Dad fought so hard to be here with us for as long as he was, even though towards the end, he certainly didn't feel like it. He passed away 6 months and 1 day from the time he checked in for his first round of chemo. It is weird to think about that because it seems like such a short time, but at the same time it feels so long. I am so grateful that he handled most of it so well and didn't have to suffer until the last few weeks. We held a memorial service for him on Saturday and it was a wonderful celebration of who he was. It was laid back, relaxed and people laughed, just the way he would have wanted it. I was given the opportunity to share about my Dad and I wanted to post it here, so we always have it.

"I have heard it said that "seeds of discouragement can not grow in a grateful heart." I am so glad that God chose me to be Danny Young's daughter. I know Dad knew that I appreciated him, but if I could send him a thank you card in heaven, this is what it would say...

Thank you for taking us sledding, every single time it snowed.

Thank you for letting me think that I had the ability to stop the car while pulling into the garage, simply by pulling hard on the steering wheel.

Thank you for playing tickle monster every night before bed.

Thank you for passing along your creative gene, only now I don't know who will help me on my projects!

Thank you for supplying my friends and I with GIANT styrofoam packing peanuts to fill the truck bed of a boy's truck so that we could win the "boys vs. girls" war we had gotten ourselves into.

Thank you for teaching me to drive and maybe how to get speeding tickets.

Thank you for showing the world that bright colored jams and mismatched converse really can look cool.

Thank you for being as strict as you were, we hated it at times, but I think Mica and I both turned out pretty good.

Thank you for passing along your "perfectionist and the need to be in control" gene. It serves me well, most days.

Thank you for your unwavering faith and your strong influence on mine.

Thank you for always having a sense of humor or a wisecrack. Especially when Stephen asked to marry me and you replied, "Well, she could've done worse." I know that put him at ease.

Thank you for being such a graceful loser for the last 5 years in a row during our annual "Dad and Danee' Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Who Can Keep the Candle Burning the Longest After They Say to Blow It Out" game.

Thank you for fixing anything and everything that needed to be fixed.

Thank you for be willing to help us however and whenever you could with whatever we needed.

Thank you for sitting with us in a courtroom everyday for the 2 hardest weeks of our lives.

Thank you for being willing to come to Norman and drive around for 4 hours looking for our lost dog, Wrigley, a week after your 2nd round of chemo when you felt pretty terrible.

Thank you for loving Olive like she was the only thing that mattered in the entire world.

Thank you for fighting so hard to stay here with us, even though you were miserable.

Thank you for telling me you loved me the last time we saw each other.

Thank you for being an amazing Dad and Dano. We love you, the most and we will miss you everyday.

Love, Your Favorite, Right? Danee' "

We already miss him so much and it has only been 7 days. I know that the upcoming days, months and years will be hard without him, but I have faith that once again, God will get us through.