Live the Life You’ve Dreamed
The Golf Channel and World Club Championship gave my family a gift tonight….footage and interviews of my father in the last days of his life. Watching it was a wave of emotions, but the biggest takeaway was that he was extremely happy in those last days and in his element. I felt like he was looking straight at me through the screen a few times with his signature grin saying: It’s okay.
(it will re-air on Thursday 12/29 at 2:00pEST)
Norman Swenson, the true champion of the game, defined all that is great about golf: a gentlemen, a competitor, a friend, grace and victory in defeat. He brought people together with a smile, a laugh and a southern accent that made the experience better for everybody.
They showed a clip of Dad showing a smiley face on the top of one of his tees…..Boo says he did that for her. I think he did too.
In another clip the camera zooms in from the side….it’s a tee from my sister’s wedding that he took all the way over the Korea.
Live the life you’ve dreamed.
Wow……..powerful message.
What an amazing surprise, brought tears to my eyes as many of your blog posts do, always such great lessons for life.
Thank you so much for sharing!
A million hugs,
Vicky:::
Wow, wow, wow! Chills all over my body and I am crying tears of joy for you! XOXO
What a gift…you are blessed!
Ashley,
How wonderful that they filmed the footage of him and what a gift for you and your family to share it with all the world. And to all happen just at the time in your life when you probably need the smile and confidence of your dad the most. God has an amazing way of working in our lives! What a reassurance that life is good and we should live it to the fullest, not knowing when we will spend our last day here. And for you and Boo, a smile from heaven! 🙂
Wow…what an awesome gift to have all that footage Ashley! I’m in awe…and that smiley face for Boo made me tear up! Prayers for you and your family. 🙂
Susan
Wow. He really does look blissfully happy. I can’t imagine how much of a smile he would have knowing how many people he/you all have affected. So sorry for your loss, especially during the holidays… not to mention everything else you all have been through… (sheesh!)… though it’s so cool that the channel aired a special feature on him. How cute that he always carried around trinkets and momentos from weddings or special people in his life. I’m sure your emotions are worn out, but I’m glad you got to see his smiling face and came away with the feeling that everything is like it’s supposed to be.
I love the “live the life you’ve dreamed” tee. That’s an expression I used to would have scoffed at…. by 18, I figured dreams were impossible and tended to focus on the bad in life. But, a few months of reading your blog.. and I’m starting to realize some dreams and- more importantly- joy- are possible after all. 🙂
That’s so amazing Ashley!! He’s right there with you all along the way. I love that Boo said the smiley tee was for her. So cute! xoxo
Wow, what an amazing gift you received in that interview and footage of his last days. I lost my father a few years ago as well and I miss him terribly. We were so close and I lost him in a very tragic set of circumstances. I’m so glad you were able to see your Father happy and at peace. I know it is hard to watch in some ways but extremely soothing at the same time. He was living his dream and I know he is proud of you for the way you are living your dream!
What a beautiful tribute to your amazing dad!!
I want to be the kind of parent you dad was. I’m learning so much from your blog, Ashley……it’s almost like reading “The Secret” again. Thank you!
xo
Wow, tears are fallin here, again!
Thanks for the message, I it’s received loud and clear xxx
Love you guys! so very much.
I shared my first Choose Joy bracelet in honor of you and your dad yesterday. Sending you all prayers…
Hi Ashley,
I’m sitting here teary eyed because you lost youre father in the same time I almost lost mine. He made through but is now living in a nursinghome and it is easy to forget how thankfull we must be that we still have him. Thank you for reminding me!
The tribute to your dad during the show was really wonderful and epitomized the person he was. I know he is very proud of you, Perry and Swen.
What a blessing to watch. My best friend lost her father unexpectedly just two months ago. He has been leaving messages left and right. Your post choked me up a little. I’m really inspired that you have chosen to take such a wonderful message away from everything. You are such a strong and beautiful person. Truly a messenger of God. Thank you! Ps. We are reading the book Life After Loss. It is the most amazing book. I hope you will read it as you grieve all of your crazy losses this year. God Bless, and may yoy have many more day full of witty fun ideas!!
what a beautiful tribute!
What a wonderful man!
What a great gift to you and your family! I missed it, but hope to catch it tomorrow.
The minute I saw that picture of dad in the purple shirt walking, I see Sienna! That’s his “Go Get Em” face slash Pirate Argh, but cant help but smile underneath it! You know he was doing his little unconscious whistle there too….probably to the Rocky song!
Wow, what an amazing gift to be able to see that footage from your Dad just before he passed, and those tees ~ I was so emotional reading your post. I am very close to my Dad as well and can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you and your family. Your Dad would be so proud of you and your strength. I so enjoy reading your funny, honest and sweet posts with amazing pictures, and your little girl, is just adorable.
Wow, Ashley… I have no idea how you made it through the show. I’m a teary mess just reading this blog post. How beautiful and what a truely amazing gift!
What a fantastic gift. Priceless.
It’s funny but I always think of Jenny Swett when you mention your father.
That you write about him on the day of her death is all the more poignant to me.
God bless you.
Wow is all I can say. Tears have welled up and weap for you and your family. What a wonderful gift ya’ll will treasure forever.
i think its awesome they did a segment on your dad!!!
Your posts always make me feel like I want to walk away from my desk at work and go start really living, but there’s this thing called bills that have to be paid. I just hope that if I work hard enough and save as much as I can that one day I will be free to live the lifeas it was meant to be lived. Your words are so powerful that they move people to take action. But darn it, if my coworkers see me blinking back tears one more time…..
(I’m going to have to stop reading your posts at work!)
You’re such an amazing person. I’m so incredibly thankful you got to have this and see your dad’s last days. It’s surreal to think no one had any idea, and yet there it all is captured forever for you to see over and over and over again. God really loves you! You’re such an inspiration to everyone and i LOVE seeing what you have to say every day! You’re truly one of God’s people and anyone can see how much he uses you to show people how amazing he is. Thank you for reminding me every day to {{Choose Joy}} : )
<3
What an amazing gift to you and your family. That is awesome. So glad they did that. Makes you thankful that there are cameras everywhere now. They can document so many things, including the love of a father for his family. So glad you got to have that as a precious last memory. Still praying for you and your family. God works everything for good, even if we can’t see it at the time. Sometimes we get to see glimpses of that, here on earth, sometimes not, but I am so glad you got to have that as a reminder of who he was.
Wow, way to make a girl cry at 4:00 in the afternoon!! What a wonderful gift for you and your family.
I’m crying from reading about Jenny’s passing and now about your father’s tribute. Wow. I’m praying for you every day Ashley. As I read your updates filled with humor, determination, and just that SPARK that is YOU!!!! You amaze me Ashley and inspire me! I will never forget to Choose Joy! I can tell that you are blessed with an incredible family and surrounded by friends (and cutie pie Boo). I will keep praying. Ellen
Beautiful tribute….wish I could have known your Dad. Sounds like he was an amazing man! 🙂 Blessings!
Makes me tear up reading about him. My dad is an awesome man too. Reading about yours makes me think of him. I try to spend as much time with my parents because I know all of us are only here for such a short time. I treasure our time together and I know you will treasure your memories as well. My heart goes out to you. You know it seems that they didn’t make too many dads like ours. Real, true gentlemen. I’m not saying there aren’t more out there, but I think we are pretty lucky to have the ones we got.
Hi there! I wanted to let you know that I absolutely love your blog. I found you through Natasha at little pink monster. She’s actually a good friend of mine. Anyways, I always read your blog and have never commented but wanted to let you know that you are truly inspirational. You have made me a better person and have changed my perspective on life. I have a great husband and two wonderful little boys but I too often have let myself get caught up in the small stuff ( I also have ADHD and OCD:). But since I have been following you, my approach to life has been “you only get one chance, so live it up”. Even my husband says that I am noticably happier. So thank you. Please know that you are making a
difference in people’s lives. We have different beliefs ( i am Jewish) but the ideals are the same…god bless. 🙂
What a gift that was that they aired that! What a gift of a man your dad is and was. And you are a special gift for all of us who know you in one way or another.
OH WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is AMAZING, and in my opinion, MIRACULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, and thank the LORD for how He is using you, your family, and your sweet dad. I was blessed…
Love,
Maryann
Ashley,
Was your Dad a pro golfer? My brother is a caddie on the PGA tour and I wonder if they met at some point?
Very cool that you have a tribute of your father from the Golf Channel. I would imagine that it warmed your heart to hear your father’s voice again.
Thank you for reminding us all that life is a beautiful and unexpected journey.
~Charisse