10 Years is a Long Time

Ten years ago yesterday, my Pap died. In some ways I cannot believe that it has been that long.  In other ways, it feels like an eternity.  My Pap never got to meet three of his great-grandchildren.  Jillian was only 1-year-old when he passed, so neither of my children will have any memories or knowledge of him except what gets passed on to them.  

A week or so ago our cousin Brad sent us this picture of Pap when he was young.  I had never seen this before and I love it.

But this is probably my favorite picture of him.  This was Jillian's first Easter and Pap's last one.  She had cried and cried that day.  Most of the pictures of her include splotchy marks all over her face from her complete meltdown.  But here she is with my Pap - content.  And he is looking at her like she is the only one in the room.  

So much has happened in the last ten years.  Some really fabulous stuff; some really rotten stuff.  God has been faithful through all of it.  And I have a legacy to pass on.  A legacy of loving my family, giving to others, and making every one feel like they are my favorite.  As my sisters and cousin and I were bantering through text about which one of us was really Pap's favorite (they just can't grasp the truth of the matter on that one), it became obvious to me that he loved each one of us as if we were the only one that mattered.  And, folks, that matters. A lot.