Happy Father’s Day

Late Blooming Lessons From Life’s Second Chapter 

A journey of discovery. A discovery of self. Pieces of old. Paired with pieces of new.

Lesson #8: Happy Father’s Day

“Gone, but never forgotten. Your love still guides us every day.”

Happy Father’s Day, Greg

Ten Father’s Days.

Almost eleven years without you.
And still, it never gets easier.

Each year, as the calendar turns to June, something shifts in me. A quiet melancholy takes hold. It moves in slowly, almost unnoticed, until I feel the weight of it fully. It wraps around me like a fog—heavy, familiar, and completely out of my control.

Then the day arrives. And the ache sharpens.

 

You should be here.
Celebrating.
With your family.
Your children.
Your grandchildren.

We should be together—laughing, telling stories, soaking in the joy that only comes from being surrounded by love. You should be watching them grow.  Hearing their laughter.  Seeing their milestones. Their lives are filled with light, and I know that light would have brought you so much joy.

I’m sad for all that you’ve missed. The big moments. The small ones. Cruz playing basketball. Golf. Willow’s amazing dance. Her TK graduation. Riding bikes. Being silly. And baby Lennox. Her smiles. Giggles. Simply. Pure joy. The everyday magic that makes life worth living. You would have loved them so deeply. They would have loved you back with their whole hearts.

We miss you.

Your warmth.
Your wisdom.
Your laughter.
Your light.

But even in your absence, you live on—in the spirit of your children, and in the eyes of our precious grandchildren. I see your kindness in them. Your goodness. Your love. It’s in the way they care. The way they smile. The way they hold space for others.

A piece of you is in them. Always.

I still see you.
Hear you.
Feel you.
And yet… it’s never the same.
It never will be.
I will always wish for more.
And hope for just one more day.

As we welcome the official start of summer, I’m reminded that this season is one of new beginnings—of warmth, growth, and light. It invites us to reflect. To open our hearts. To pause long enough to recognize the blessings still surrounding us.

This is my prayer for Father’s Day.
For me. For our family. For all families.

May we allow the light to gently hold us.
May we find peace in the memories.
And may we live in a world where our children can grow together in love, in peace, and in harmony.

#HappyFathersDay #Blessings #Peace #LoveToAll