Sad post this time

Ok so this post is a little different than my normal posts. The last several weeks have been pretty tough around here. Ty's dad, Mike, had been struggling more than normal and we all knew that he was really getting worse, quickly. Week before last was a bad week, thankfully on Thursday when Ty took the kids by to see him he did recognize them and talked to them a little but even they knew that Papa was not doing very good. Then, on Friday he didn't move at all. He was asleep, or something, all day, he didn't move at all and was completely non responsive. We lost him early Saturday morning. Even though we all knew this day was coming, it didn't help the grieving any. We waited a week to have the services so that Melissa and Avery (our niece and her mom) and other family and friends could make it here. I think each of us had good days and bad days. I do believe there is a good reason why when someone passes away, you have the services sooner rather than later, the waiting is tough. The memorial services were beautiful. By our best calculations there was somewhere around 130-150 people there. We picked out two great songs, The Best Days, by George Strait and Go Rest High by Vince Gill. A very good friend was kind enough to sing at the service too which was just beautiful. Mike was a huge lover of all things outdoors. He loved camping and fishing and boy scouts and he lovingly passed on that love to his boys. They decided the best place to put his ashes for the service was in an old Coleman lantern. A perfect touch I thought. One of Mike's wishes had always been to have some of his ashes poured into the family's flagpole at the cemetery. So, late Saturday afternoon, with the help of a friend, that is exactly what the boys did! Bob lifted them up to the top of the pole and using Mike's favorite coffee cup, Ty and Tad poured Mike's ashes down the pole. Poor Tad is deathly afraid of heights, so we were all impressed that he was even able to go up in the bucket, but he sucked it up and did it! (However there may be permanent impressions from Tad's fingers) Although it was a very sad occasion, lots of tears were shed and hugs given, I felt very lucky that I was even there and able to say that I had known Mike. He got a new heart 15 years ago this week, but if some other family in Iowa had not lost a member of their family or honored their son's wishes and allowed his heart to be donated, Mike's funeral would have been years ago. If that had happened, I would not have had a father-in-law at all, he would have been gone before I was part of the family. Mike was a tough old guy, he was opinionated, loud and sometimes harsh, but we loved him, a lot! He also had a BIG heart, he adored his family, doted over his grandchildren, had a special place in his heart for all his 'girls' and we put him in a special place in ours! You were loved Papa Mike and we will miss you terribly. I truly hope you have found the perfect fishing spot and are loving life now that you are healthy once more. Until we see you again, rest in peace!