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One year ago today, we lost the best FIL a girl could ask for -- fun, loving, thoughtful & kid-friendly. Having lost my own Dad 17 years before, he became the next best thing. He loved my boys & they adored him back, kept things light when MIL could get a little too intrusive or opinionated, always had & told a great story, was willing to act like & play with kids of all ages and was loved by all who knew him. He died in a horrific truck accident at the mulch yard where he worked for DH's brother since retiring from the corporate world -- the same place I do the bookkeeping for. Neither I nor my BIL were there at the time. He'll never be forgotten and lives on in his 6 children & our families.
My FIL & MIL were/are devout Catholics. At the funeral services, the priest & my DH who did the eulogy spoke of honoring him by taking on one of his many wonderful traits. For me, his passing prompted me to return more faithfully to my Catholic upbringing, and make spirituality more of a focus in my life. I know he'd be proud & happy with my efforts to do so, and having faith is what's gotten me through the loss, given me the strength to support DH & my boys through their grieving and had such a positive impact in my return to healthy eating & living.
DH is off already to mass with his Mom & I'll meet her for an early dinner tonight -- we're tag teaming. So, today as I begin in prayer, I do so honoring the memory of my FIL --
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
And on this one anniversary day and each one meal, moment, bite and emotion (and there will be many), I'll turn to prayer, breathing, journaling & expressing as I'm especially grateful today for having an amazing FIL for over 25 years in my life, wonderful memories of him and our times together and the legacy of his equally amazing family. xoxox
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