Remembering Dad.....

So now it's been five years Monday since I said goodbye to my best friend. My dad. I can't believe how time flies. Sometimes I think I'll pick up the phone and he'll be there. Asking me how my day is going, what the kids are doing. And sometimes I think I'll call my dad. He'll help me through whatever problem or dilemma I'm having.....only I can't call him anymore. I have to rely on what he taught me. And boy, did he teach me! Even when I didn't want to learn. He would tell me little anecdotes from his life, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning. I may have come home late and he would be up waiting. The lecture would be quick, the stories, not so quick. What I would give to listen again. The day he had his heart attack will be forever etched in my brain. How I wish I could just go back to the day before. Now I know what to do. I would have forced him to go to the Dr. I'd know what to tell him. How painful it would be without him. How we all would miss him so much. What about Colter and Mason? Mom? Jeni? Please dad, go to the Dr!!! But I know I can't think like that. I can't go back. All I can do is keep his memory alive and be the kind of person he'd be proud of. Hopefully I am. I love and miss you dad. I hope you can see us. I hope you can see the kids. They miss you so much! Colter is just like you. How could he not be? Mason wishes he could remember more about you. He tries, but Colter has to remind him of certain things. Emma Jayne just wishes she knew her "gampa bal". We took her to the cemetery and she kept saying "where gampa bal"? Bruce and I had tears in our eyes. It was so sad. We all miss and love you so much! I'll keep you in my heart always and cherish all of the good times we had together. I can't listen to Frank Sinatra, The Dave Clark Five or Peter, Paul and Mary without tearing up. Wow, I'm really rambling. I could write a novel with all of the thoughts I'm thinking. I just wanted to pay tribute to my friend, my mentor, my dad.
I love you!!!!!!!

Colter made this picture for my dad to honor his military service. He made an army one for him before he died, but when he had his heart attack, he made this one for his hospital room. We were going to leave it in his hands, but I couldn't do it.
This is one of my favorite pictures of all time.....
Here's my mom and dad from Easter, 1983. Notice the snow......
This is the Val Jr. picture. We call it that because we think he has such a "Colter" look about him here. Thus, Colter is "Val Jr".
Me and my dad in 1972.
Here are two of my idols. My Grandma Wayment and my dad. Needless to say, this is another favorite picture.
Mardee will kill me for this picture (sorry!!!) but I love it....