Thoughts from Jen

I had an experience a few days after my dad died.   I hold it precious to me like a sacred gift.  I was full of anxiety and dread about his death and I was staring at the ceiling trying to sleep one night when I realized I needed help.  I was so full of remorse and confusion about how and why he died.  As I lied there praying for help, I knew I wasn't going to be able to sleep that night until I got a blessing.  I whispered Steve that I thought I needed a blessing of comfort.  He climbed out of bed to do the honors.  He blessed me that I would be comforted.  But the gift that I needed so desperately came at the end of the blessing.  I heard the words that were a direct answer to my prayer without even knowing what I needed.  In the blessing I was told that dad was happy and surrounded by the love of a loving father.  He was surrounded by so much love that I could never imagine.  After the blessing I realized that he is so much happier where he is than where he was in this life.  He was so lonely.  He now is surrounded by perfect love.  He is being loved and accepted.  This realization meant all the difference to me in my grief.  I think that he is finally free to grow and feel good about himself.  I still keep two of his voice mails on my cell phone to listen to everyday.  I love to hear the comedy in his voice that came so natural to him.  Every time I hear his voice it it makes me laugh.  I will miss him all the rest of my days.  -Jen    

Craig's Awards

Here are just a few of Craig's awards.

Craig's Van

When Jennifer and James cleaned out Craig's van they found pictures hung all around of people he loved the most, Jenny, Jennifer, James, Melissa, his Mom and Dad, Dominic and Carrie, Adrian, Cyndi and all his grandbabiezzz. You may not be able to see all the pictures because the ones of Cyndi, Dominic, Carrie and Adrien are in the back of the van.

I thought of a really funny moment the other day while I was brushing my teeth. I started laughing so hard I choked on my toothpaste!

We were all visiting Dad and Cyndi down in New Orleans for the summer. It was so hot and humid it was gross. We would never go outside unless we were going to the pool. This one day we all went together to the pool: Dad, Cyndi, James, Dominic, Adrien, Jen and me. We were getting our towels set up and situated. We couldn't wait to get out of our t-shirts and shorts and get into the pool. I remember Dad was sitting in this chair taking off his t-shirt. He lifted up his arms over his head to pull the shirt off and low and behold all of us kids got a glimpse of two of the most beautifully clean shaven arm pits we had ever seen on a man! We all instantly started laughing and pointing...of course the boys were swearing and asking Dad, "what the hell are you doing shaving your arm pits!!!???" Our hysterical laughing and pointing didn't bother him one bit. He responded very calmly that the weather down in New Orleans was very hot and he tends to sweat more than the normal person. Shaving his arm pits seemed to help. We laughed even harder! It was so funny to see this masculine man with no under arm hair. Further confirmation that my Dad was always impeccibly groomed!

I miss him so much. I didn't realize how much until I got back to work...I miss his emails.
Melissa 11-14-07

You will be missed!