Today I sat here, feeling a little broken but more blessed than I truly deserve.
It’s been a month since I lost my dad, and honestly, it still feels surreal.
After reconnecting with him, I moved from California to Illinois, hoping to build a relationship post-boot camp. It wasn’t like the movies. My dad had a new life, and while I never meant to disrupt it, I realize now I did. I was a bit cocky raised mostly on my own by a single mom who did her best. Looking back, I see just how blessed I was.
My amazing grandparents raised me with love, morals, and wisdom. My crazy Uncle, who had no kids of his own, was a huge influence. I still remember our first movie together: Superman with Christopher Reeve.
Recently, we lost a close family friend, Dale Hins. He was more than a friend—he looked out for us back in California. I hope he’s reunited with my loved ones, living it up in heaven.
My dad and I had a relationship that got rekindled after years apart; I’m grateful for the time we had. Grief has a sneaky way of showing up when you least expect it. But the peace of knowing he’s no longer in pain is one of God’s gifts.
I didn’t know what God had planned for me when I moved here. Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about it. I left California with everything I owned in the backseat of a 1982 shit-brown Toyota Corolla and landed at the house where my dad and stepmom Pat prepared a room for me, with no job and just a little cash.
I settled in, found work, and even bought a 1990 Toyota Celica (yes, it was cool!). Life was going okay… but something was missing.
I felt God tugging at my heart—I needed to return to Him. I found a church and decided to check it out. I don’t remember much about the service, but what happened afterward changed my life.
On the drive home, I noticed a cute blonde girl with her mom following behind me. She turned off, and something in me said, “Go follow her.” So, I did. I caught up, had her roll down her window, asked her where she was going, and if I could join her, we ended up at Pizza Hut when it was cool, and gave her my number. By the time I got home, the phone was already ringing.
Fast forward to today—Melissa and I have been married almost 29 years.
She still makes me smile every day. She’s my partner, my rock, and the mother of our three amazing kids who light up my world with their joy and laughter.
I know this was a long post, but thank you if you’re still reading.
We all experience struggles and loss, but God brings us through them, often better than we expected.
If you’re going through something… keep going.
There’s a purpose in your pain. There’s a blessing on the other side.
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