My Dad

It was the end of May, was looking forward to possibly going back out to Ca., we had soo much fun last summer. I'm on the computer, just checkin my email when i get this 911 email from my brother Brian, call me right away, it's an emergency! I was thinking that maybe one of grandparents was ill, so i call him.....he tells me my dad and Valeria are on vacation in Hawaii. I said kewl, but then he starts breaking down, and i said what's wrong? My dad went diving, and had a stroke in the water, the prognosis was not good, Valeria was over there hysterical and alone...Right away i started sending out prayer requests around the world to cover the situation. I got responses from everywhere, even one in Hawaii, asking where they were! I knew that my dad was in God's hands, so my heart really went out to Valeria. My dad is her constant companion, they go everywhere together, she depends on him. Ashley and i got on the internet, looking for Hawaii hospitals. We had to go island by island, as we didn't know which one they were on. It was slow going, but then Cassie checks the mail, and there just happens to be a postcard for me, telling how this was his dream vacation, and they were headed to Maui! God is soo good, within five minutes we had Valeria on the phone. She said there was no brain activity, and she was going to have to make a decision she didn't want to make. She kept saying God forgive me.....i told her God does not blame her for doing what she had to do. She was just making official what had already happened. She asked me to come out there, i called my pastor, and he told me to get some prices. So back to the internet we go, and i found unbelievable prices for flights and rooms, even a rental car, God was dropping everything into our laps. Pastor said check one more time with the hospital, and then we'll book it. I called, it was too late, he was gone. He had gone from paradise on earth, into the very presence of God.

Back to the internet again, as we had to find flights and rooms to California. This was definitely not the way we wanted to go back! I thank You Father for my church family! They lifted us up, helped strengthen us for the days ahead. They supported us emotionally and financially, so we could make the trip.

It took about a week for my dad to arrive back in the states, the funeral was the next day. All four of us were able to go, only seemed right,  since we were all together last summer!

God was gracious to us once again, as Brian and Kristy gave us their condo to stay in, so the room situation was covered!! We had the use of a car also, and we got a great deal on the flights. At first I thought how could God be so mean to me, as to bring me and my dad back together, and bond for the very first time, for those 10 days. Only to take him away..... Then I turned it around and saw that God knew my dad's time was short, so he arranged that we reconnect and see each other, before the moment was gone. Some of us think my dad knew his time was short, just didn't tell anyone. He started living life to the fullest, going and doing what he always wanted to do, for as long as he could. We could be totally wrong, lol. I look forward to the day I see him again, and we never have to part again. Everytime I hear 'I can only imagine'by Mercy Me, I think of him. Turns out the writer of that song wrote it after his dad died, so it fits. ~I Love You and I Miss You, and I cant wait to see You again~

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