A bittersweet sunday.. and an update.

Many holidays have become bittersweet for me since the passing of my Pawpaw in Oct. 2007. He was, for all intents and purposes my Daddy. He took care of me for the majority of my life, guided me through the treacherous waters of the teenage years, he taught me about the world- but taught me more about myself, and in a final act of selflessness- he placed my hand in Chance's on our wedding day. That was always his job, from the day I was born; though others have doubted my decision since then. I always knew it should be my Pawpaw who gave me away. So yesterday, Father's Day, was especially hard for me. I don't have a relationship with my biological father, so when Pawpaw passed away Father's Day took on a new "meaning" for me. Instead of being a day of celebration, it became a day of remembrance.

As I've written on here time and time again, my Grandfather was the greatest man I've ever known. I was immeasurably blessed to be able to call him Pawpaw. But more than that, I was truly able to call him a friend. There are few people in this world who know me as well as Pawpaw did {I can count them on one hand.} I never had to explain myself to him, he just knew. We were more alike than we were different. A handful of times that led to an explosive situation, but more often than not, it was wonderful. I'll always be incredibly thankful to the Lord for putting a man like my Pawpaw into my life. And even more thankful that he was there for me in so many more ways than he had to be {though he would have told you that there was never a choice.} I'll miss my Pawpaw everyday for the rest of my life, nothing will ever fill the hole that losing him placed in my heart. My only condolence is knowing that when Chance and I have children, I will be able to show them the love they deserve, because of the love Pawpaw showed me.

************

On the sweet side of things, we celebrated Father's Day in our house in a n unconventional way. Since technically Chance and I aren't parents, we don't do the gift thing. That being said we very much feel like Mommy and Daddy to our "little ones" Tyler, Baylei, and Oliver. I celebrated for Chance in the morning with my best friend Maria, out in the pool; I let Chance sleep. We got a little crispy so we got out in the early afternoon and went to Chance's best friend's house for some relaxin' on the couch. We laughed until we nearly cried watching our favorite TV shows. {We got to see the Mythbusters launch a little girl [a dummy of course] 13 stories in the air, it was ridiculous- but amazing} Then it was back home for some night-time swimming. All in all I think Chance had a good day, which is all that matters to me. I on the other hand, am still dealing with the decision not to get out of the pool sooner.

************

And for the update:

Oliver is recovering nicely after his surgery. He wasn't very happy when I first got him home {I have 3 very long scratches on my arm to prove it.} But I think he's adjusting to the no [front] claw/no manhood thing just fine.

Chance spent most of last week in Louisville and Lexington. Lexington: for a class, and visiting a friend of ours. Stephen Hunt. He is a blessing to us in so many ways. Louisville: for a much more upsetting reason.

One of Chance's friends, his college room-mate actually, Ian Moore shot himself last Sunday morning. Ian spent the next 6 days on life support in the CCU at U of L Hospital. He was mostly brain dead {there was only activity in his brain stem.} Chance was lucky enough to get to spend the last few moments of Ian's life surrounded by his family, telling stories and remembering Ian the way he should be remembered; as a friend, as an athlete, and as an all around great guy. Saturday morning Ian's family made the decision to take him off life support, he passed shortly there after. The reasons behind Ian's decision will never be clear. There are only two people in this world who truly know what happened and one of them is gone from this world forever. Ian was an incredible athlete. He played baseball all through high school and then again in college. He was very outgoing and good looking. He had the kind of personality that could light up a room. Ian and Chance were good friends all through their high school days, but lost touch after Chance left Murray State; a fact that I think will haunt Chance for a while. They had, in recent years, however started to put back the pieces of their friendship. Ian will be greatly missed by many people, his life touched so many in his short 25 years.