Dear Dad

I miss you every day of my life. I miss you when I drive to work in the morning. I miss you when I drive home. I miss you when I had a really good day teaching. I miss you when I had a bad day teaching. I miss you when I'm in Lowe's with Eric, I miss you when I pull into the driveway back home, I miss you when I'm planning our remodeling with Eric. I miss you when I am about to go to sleep, I miss you when I wake up. I miss you when I'm working, I miss you when I'm relaxing, I miss you every time I walk by the hutch you made us in the dining room.

My heart hurts every time I see a picture of you - especially pictures of you that were taken right before you died. My heart hurts every time I think of all the things I'm doing in my life without you. My heart hurts every time I laugh about something you might have done, or said. My heart hurts every time I think about having children. My heart hurts when I'm getting together with friends, just like you and mom used to do. My heart hurts to know you're not here to watch me "grow up."

I smile each time I think of the stupid things you made me do, and everything I learned from it. I smile each time Eric makes me laugh when he says something that might as well have come from your mouth. I smile each time I'm reminded what a great guy you were. I smile when I realize I had 26 wonderful years with you as my dad. And I'll have so many more, but you just won't be here.

I miss you every day of my life. But I thank you for each of those days as well, for you made me who I am.