On a day like today

February 12th isn't my favorite day. It's the day my Daddy died. He died after having Alzheimer's Disease for 7 years. He died at home after 10 days of our family gathered at his side. The picture below is from those days. It shouts to me of an undying love, even in the face of death...
In the days before my Dad died, he "woke up", smiled at my sister Amy (who had turned her life upside down to help with his care) with obvious recognition in his eyes and told my Mom he loved her. If you know anything about the late stages of Alzheimer's, you know we experienced nothing short of a miracle.

The night Daddy died my sisters and I commented on how strange it was that the house, filled with people, suddenly felt so empty. Now he is gone from our lives, but they are definitely not empty. He (along with my mother) was sure to fill us up with so much love and to point us to God as our source of true love. So, even though there is a void in my life with him gone, my heart is so full that I got to call him Daddy.

I was distracted today by a visit from my niece, doctor's appointment for Lulu and two Valentine's parties at school. I was doing fine all day. Until I read my sister Georgie's Facebook status. It read,

Remembering today my first valentine, my daddy. It's been seven years since he died, and I still miss him. He was a wonderful father and a man after God's own heart. Happy "New Birth"day, Daddy.

Ditto.

On a day like today, it might be helpful to have something special to make me smile. I think I know just the thing...
He would have loved this little girl. Tonight this little girl is missing her Daddy.