I'll see you on the other side...

"Hope is an anchor, and love is a ship
Time is the ocean and life is a trip
You don't know where you're going
Til you know where you're at
And if you can't read the stars
Well you better have a map
A compass and a conscience
so you don't get lost at sea
Around some lonely island, no one wants to be

From the beginning of creation, I think our maker had plan
For us to leave these shores and sail beyond the sand
And let the good light guide to the waves and the wind
To the beaches and a world where have never been
And we'll climb upon a mountain, y'all we'll let our voices ring
Those who've never tried it, they'll be the first to sing

Woah My My
I'll see you on the other side
If I make it
And it might be a long hard ride
But I'm gonna take it
Sometimes it seems I don't have a prayer
Let the weather take me anywhere
But I know I wanna go
Where the streets are gold
Cause you'll be there

Oh my my

You don't bring nothing with you here
And you can't take nothing back
I ain't never seen a hearse, with a luggage rack
So I've torn my knees from praying
Scarred my back from falling down
Spent so much time flying high, til I'm face first in the ground
So if you're up there watching me, can you talk to God and say,
Tell him I might need a hand to see you both someday
Woah My My
I'll see you on the other side
If I make it
And it might be a long hard ride
But I'm gonna take it
Sometimes it seems I don't have a prayer
Let the weather take me anywhere
But I know I wanna go
Where the streets are gold
Cause you'll be there

Cause you'll be there"

My Pop (Mike's dad) passed away on Friday September 9th after a very hard fight against cancer. He was such a strong, loving, caring man, and we miss him so much already. He was loved in the community but more importantly he was loved at home by his wife and children, and grandchildren. There was nothing he was more proud of than his family, and I feel blessed to be a part of that. I remember when I first found out that he was sick and how bad it was presumed to be-I was so upset. But he wasn't. If he was, he didn't show it. He said from day one he would fight it, and he made good on his promise. I have never seen anyone have such a positive outlook and fight as hard as he did. While I am sad that he is gone, I am glad that he is not hurting anymore. But I wish we could still have him here. :(  

His presence will be so greatly missed...this coming Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, and even vacations. He wasn't able to go with us this year because he was so sick, but I am more thankful for our vacation last year than he'll ever know. That vacation changed my life, for the better. I remember going and feeling lonely and still not knowing my new family very well. I came home with a great bond with them, and that is also the vacation where I met Darren. Pop is the one that took us, so he gets the credit :)  It was so nice to spend time with him there, getting to know him and Grammy better. Seeing what good, loving people they are. I'll never EVER forget that amazing vacation. I doubt any other will ever beat it. 

I remember the last good talk I had with Pop. I sat in his living room for a while and just wanted to listen to him for as long as possible. The older I get, the more I realize we should do this with our family. You never know when that last good talk may be your last. I also remember the last time I saw him, and the last thing he said to me. "Goodbye, I love you." I held him a lot tighter and longer than normal. I am glad I did. I remember what he said to Darren after that. "You take care of my girl here" and they smiled at each other and Darren joked with him. But I think Pop was serious. Darren will make good on that promise. 

I will miss the special occasions. I'll miss the vacations. I'll miss talking about strange common interests like duck decoys :) I'll miss him talking about how great his grandchildren are. 

But I know I'll see him on the other side one day. 

Life is hard sometimes. But it's still fabulous.