10.5 months later...

So if you are tired of reading about my family's last year..skip this post...

A lot of people ask if it gets easier, it doesn't. We just learn how to deal with our new normal.

People ask how we are all doing... well here ya go..

I'm just going to give you an update from my perspective on everyone... this may or may not be how we are all feeling. I, being the crazy-anxious-psycho who worries about everyone and everything, feel like I have a good idea.

Mom: Still misses my dad every minute of every day. Still taking it every minute at a time. Some days she can smile, and geniunely mean it. Somedays, she wants to crawl in bed and never come out. She finds so much joy in her children, and thats what keeps her going. Weekends are always hard. Who can blame her? She lost her best friend of 30+ years. I'm very proud of my mama. I'm proud to call her my mom. She is so strong and I love her. So much.

Taylor: Still learning to adjust without my dad. Feels a lot of weight on his shoulders being the priesthood holder of the home. Every season brings something new he is now responsible for..(example: keeping the front yard looking up to par) He is loving football, playing like he has never played before. Thinks of my dad constantly throughout his games. In a sense, is playing for him. Enjoying his Senior year with a beautiful girl, who we all love. Preparing to send in his mission papers in 7 months!!

Amy: Having a fabulous school-year. Has outstanding grades, and is enjoying all of her friends and CJ, who we all love as well! Wishing desperately that my dad could still be here, but has a firm testimony of the plan of salvation. Still has some bitter moments, as she should, she lost her dad at age 16! She is beautiful, and she is a 16 year-old girl. Enough said.

Robbie: Considers my dad his own. Misses him dearly. Wears my dad's clothes to games. So glad to have married Shawna young, to have all the years he did with my dad. Thinks of my dad constantly. Still wanting to ask for his advice. Misses my dad especially at Tay's football games. Would do anything to get to talk to my dad again. Enjoying being the only boy in the home, with his wife and two BEAUTIFUL girls!

Shawna: Enjoying life day-to-day with her girls keeping her so busy! Tears are always at the surface when thinking about memories of my dad. Misses everything about my dad, EVERYTHING. Grateful to have a best friend who has been through this exact same trial. Wishes so bad her girls could still have thier grandpa, and grateful Taryn had the time she did with my dad. Loves that Taryn still talks about Grandpa. Loving everything about her girls, and could eat Tenley because she is so in love with her. Especially her toes, that look exactly like Grandpa's. (scary, but true)

Brett: So glad to have known my dad for 4 years. Misses his sense of humor. Misses him. Tries to bring humor in to everyone and everything to lighten the mood, and he does a pretty good job at it. So glad to finally have his wife back to her normal self. Constantly reminded of what my dad told him he could do for pay-back for the wood floors that he finished the week before he left us. "Just take care of my girl, that's all I ask, just take care of my girl."

Me (Lisa): Enjoying life again. Miss my dad more than words can say. Finding myself doing things daily that remind me of him. Wish desperately that my dad could see our house finished, and he could lay the cement we need for this winter. Grateful to have such an amazing dad who quietly served us all. Wants a baby so bad it hurts, but knowing my dad is with my children is such a comfort.

So this is just my perspective, but it gives you an idea. We are all living life, enjoying it once again, and learning how to adjust with my dad not being around.

Thank goodness we have the gospel!!