Dear Daddy,
It's been three years since you left for Home, and still I ache everyday. The ache isn't always the same. Some days I'm really happy, and I ache to call you and tell you about the good things in my life. Some days are frustrating, and I ache to hug you, to feel safe and loved in your big, belly-intruding hugs. Some days I simply ache because I don't get to sit on the carport with you and enjoy the beautiful evening weather.
One-thousand and ninety-five days..... that's how many days we've lived without you now. Amazing. At least five hundred of those were tear-filled. On two of those days I had breakups. On two others we gave it just one more shot. On one of those days, we all moved out of that big house in Raeford. One day I graduated from college. Another day I became a high school English teacher. On many different days, Mama and I heard the call of the mourning dove. One day, I stopped counting the number of days.....
You know, for the thousands of days before you left, you gave us enough love and devotion to last a lifetime. I miss you, and I'm sad you're not here to share the holidays (and everydays) with us, but I'm grateful for every moment we had with you. In between all of the aching, I'm grateful you were my Daddy. Grateful that most of my memories of you involve full-bodied laughter and toothy full-faced grins. Grateful that you're happy and pain-free and in the presence of our Living God. And when we all get to Heaven, we'll have a million more moments and days with you that will be even better than what we experienced here on earth.
Keep leaving dimes for Mama.
I love you,
Katie Kelly (and her goo-goo-googley eyes.....)
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