Happy Birthday to Daddy!

"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, and the things you never want to lose."  - From The Wonder Years

I love this picture!

Well, here we go...  the first of the firsts.  You know, first birthdays, first holidays, and such without a loved one.  These are the days when Daddy will never be far from my mind and heart the most.  There have been moments where for a split-second I have picked up my phone to call to share exciting news like when we found out our baby was a boy or when I needed job advice.  It's in these moments when his absence is glaring, and I miss him the most.  

Today I'm not going to focus on all that's been taken from me and my sweet family, but rather, I'm going to celebrate the day he was born.  I'm going to remember his birthdays spent on his farm, fishing with our family and trips to Reelfoot Lake for catfish.  I'm going to cry, but I'm also going to smile and cherish my treasured memories.  So, Happy Birthday, Daddy!  You're missed more every single day.