Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of condolences last week while I was away for my father’s funeral. It will take me a while to respond to everyone but I’m working on it. I wanted to share the last week with you because it was so not what I ever expected it to be…..it is always more than anyone wants to know but it’s how I remember. A special thank you to my friend Janice who took photos from this last week.
Our week started off with the kind of sadness and grief that makes you physically ill. One of the hardest parts of the whole trip was the night we went through all of my father’s luggage as my mother looked on. It was so painful to pull out each item he had taken on the trip….we analyzed how it was packed, we had excitement at the recognition of a favorite vest or sweater, and we were devastated to unpack the last outfit he wore. We passed things around, smelled his shirts to see if his smell lingered, looked at all the souvenirs he had brought back …..everything in threes…..he always brought back three of everything for my brother, sister and I to share one day. My sister pulled out a pair of his golf pants…..his pockets were still full of golf tees, phone numbers from new friends, change…….and a little metal heart trinket that my mother had given him months ago inscribed “with god, all things are possible”. We cried as we realized he was thinking of my mother as he put that in his pocket each day in Korea……what a gift to discover that he had packed it in the first place for such a long trip.
We went up to my parents’ mountain house for a night. My father had moved up there 2 weeks ago before leaving for Korea and my mother was going to follow this last Monday with the rest of their things. As soon as we got there my mother opened the sliding glass doors on the porch that overlooks the 1st hole of the Linville Ridge and we began going through my father’s belongings so we could bring them all down for his service.
A turning point in our grief and sadness came when Boo made it clear that my dad was with us. We were so busy and Boo started yelling to the room:
Boo: Talk to Norman, Grandma!
Perry (my sister): What did you say about Norman?
Boo: Talk to Norman!
Perry: What do you mean “talk to Norman”? Where is he?
Boo pointed outside to the porch where there was a strong breeze stirring.
My mother and sister just looked at each other with shock. I walked out of the office and into the den…..
Me: What are you talking about?
Boo: Grandpa wants Grandma to talk to him….out on the porch.
(Let me just note here that we never refer to my dad as “Norman” around Boo….it’s always “Dad” or “Grandpa”…….so after that we just knew that my dad was there with us.)
Obviously he wasn’t there physically…..but Boo wanted us to talk to him. Children are closer to God right?
That night we all stayed up until about 1am in my mother’s bed telling stories and giggling. It felt really good and I know my dad would have been so happy. The next few days we spent collecting all of my dad’s golf memorabilia and our favorite photos. We wanted his visitation to be a celebration of his life…..to share what a full life he had lived. My brother set up a website to try and collect some stories from his friends and the comments and reflections have just filled our hearts more than anyone will ever know. We read and reread them over and over and over again. One comment was from a man that had just met him in line at the airport getting on the plane just hours before he died…..I cry every time I read it because I can just picture my dad starting up a conversation:
I had the privilege of meeting a very nice man as we were boarding a plane at the Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea. I let him get in front of me so he could be with some of his friends he was apparently traveling with. We struck up a conversation when he told me where he was from. I knew he was my kinda’ man when he said, “where are y’all from?”. I knew he was from my area and knew he had to be a good man. On the plane, this man and his friend were seperated from the other folks in his group (who I happened to be sitting with). I was aware of something terribly going wrong but had no idea the nice man I had met in line at the airport was having trouble. I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn it was Norman Swenson. My thoughts and prayers are with both Norman and his family. I can’t explain why or how a man I only met for a few moments touched me the way he did. It must be something about him that his close family and friends already know. God Bless you all.
My dad loved meeting new people and was genuinely interested in everything they had to say.
All week we reflected on how lucky we were to have had such an amazing father and how he led us to have such full lives already…..we spent an entire day writing his obituary and picking out the perfect photo.
The Viewing
It might sound strange to some of you, but I was so excited about the viewing. We knew so many of his friends would be there and we wanted to focus to be my dad and memories with him. We filled the hall with his photos, golf clubs, hats, and other memorabilia. We joked that it was the “Norman Swenson Museum.”
We set up a table with his green Pine Valley jacket, shoes, and trophies.
We displayed a case with ACC rings, medals and even a scorecard he’d kept from a round he played with Arnold Palmer.
Mementos from past tournaments:
My brother, sister and I enlarged over 90 photos and articles to 8×10 size to line the hall with our favorite pictures of our dad. The church said they’d never seen anything like it for a funeral. We’d even enlarged “love” telegrams my father had sent my mother years ago and the checks he’d kept from their first date and when he bought her engagement ring.
The whole family spent the entire night prior to the viewing laughing and reflecting on the funny things my dad said over and over to people. We typed them up and filled a bowl with slips of paper with “Normisms” that visitors could grab as his last advice to them:
The Funeral
My mother insisted on speaking at the funeral. She was a pillar of strength for everyone. She told how he always called her “sweetheart” and recently they had been swimming one night in their pool in Florida listening to their favorite ballad “Time to Say Goodbye” and she had a feeling it might be their last swim together.
My dad’s friends Tom and Kevin gave reflections. Tom told of my father’s faith and shared a hilarious email that my dad had written to one of their friends. Kevin shared how happy my dad had been the week before in Korea and how he was so endearing to the caddies and kept them laughing. All three of us kids spoke too. When my sister finished speaking she held up 2 airplane sick bags that my dad had written a long list of potential job contacts on for her….and told everyone that if they were “lucky (or unlucky) enough” to have been included on the list, they would be getting a call from her soon. My dad would have loved that.
We buried him in his Pine Valley tie, with his long putter, his Bushnell range finder, countless golf balls, a cell phone, camera and many notes. A bagpiper played as he was taken to his final resting place.
I was the last of our family and friends to speak at my father’s funeral:
There was one common thread in all the stories and condolences my family received in the past week:
My dad was always happy.
He was always whistling.
He always had a grin on his face.
He was always teasing and making light of something.
While looking through his office for items to bring down for the service I found a devotional page on top of his papers that he’d torn out……it was titled “Choose Joy.”
That’s my dad in a nutshell……he had an overwhelming zest for life and he chose joy every morning he woke up.
Nothing bad or regrettable ever happened to him….it was all just part of living life.
He spent 64 years preparing for this day.
He prepared his wife and kids as well as he could.
He never left anything unsaid.
He told us he loved us every day.
He gave us more advice and direction than any of us will ever need.
He created an example we want to follow.
He created a network of wonderful, loyal friends that will keep his memory alive.
He treasured each and every one of you and he told story after story of your adventures.
He wouldn’t want us to be sad.
He would want us to tell all his stories.
His life was short but it was full.
One last thing…..we’re pretty sure that he started his bucket list when he was 5 years old and he came pretty darn close to ticking everything off.
I think he would want me to tell you:
“he who dies with the most stories wins……so you better get to work.”
Boo at her “old Grandpa’s” final resting place…..the “new Grandpa” is in heaven.
Amazingly, we laughed and smiled more than we cried this past week. It gets easier and then harder. I’m at peace that it was his time. I miss him more than ever but it’s always hardest for those of us left behind. I know if he had the choice he wouldn’t come back…..I’m know the other side is too wonderful…..he’ll just wait patiently for us. I’m not sure how the next few weeks will be. I’ll worry about my mother the most….but I know she’s the strongest of all of us. My father traveled a lot so it feels like he’s just on a long trip and maybe he’ll walk back through the door one day. It was amazing to see all his “lists” he kept and see what he was thinking about and planning. I think that was a gift from him to friends and family. It was really hard going through some of his things and seeing what he held onto…..and realizing that it’s all just stuff. When we got home tonight from the airport I viewed my belongings a little differently…..I feel like purging every little thing I’ve ever held onto that doesn’t have any value…..and writing a note to store with the things I do decide to keep on why they are important to me. There are things my father kept that we will never know why he kept them. It’s just another reminder that we can’t take anything with us when we are gone.
This is one of my favorite photos of my father. It’s his “farewell” wave.
And then in the midst of all the candid photographs taken at the World Club Championship last week….there is this one of my father….in the same pose. It’s so typical that he would pull a photographer away from his job to have him take a photo like this….makes me laugh that he’s so predictable. He looks so happy…..just a little tired. He told Kevin this would be his last trip to Korea. It makes me wonder if he knew something we didn’t.
Before we left Charlotte today, my mother gave me a copy of “Heaven is for Real” and inscribed the front with an encouraging note.
I read the entire book on the airplane as we headed back today. We landed and waited to catch the parking shuttle. I was frustrated with Brett because he had us waiting at the wrong stop for 15 minutes. As we finally got on the airport bus to get our car, I sat across from a young woman wearing a t-shirt with a young man’s photo on it. I asked her about him. The man on her shirt was Jason Reeves, her brother. He was killed in Afghanistan December 5, 2010 by a suicide bomber. He was 32 years old….half the age of my dad. He was born on my parents’ anniversary and my husband’s birthday. Moved to tears as she told us about him, I gave her my book that I had just read hoping it would bring her comfort. As we got off the second bus, Brett said “you know, if we hadn’t missed the bus, we wouldn’t have met her.”
Please go and read about Jason Reeves if you have a moment tonight. I’d love to honor his memory as well.
Read more about my dad here:
I Will Read the Owner’s Manual Completely
A few things written about my Dad that I wanted to link here so I don’t forget about them:
In Memoriam: Norm Swenson, Amateur Golf Champion and Bill Charest, Champion Nice Guy
Former Demon Deacon Golfer Norman Swenson Passes Away At The Age Of 64
Golf, Charlotte Lose A Friend In Norman Swenson
Norman Swenson, senior amateur golf standout, dies of heart attack at 64
Norman Swenson, Legacy.com
Norman V. Swenson, Jr. – World Club Championship
Norman Swenson Loved Golf – Global Golf Post
Farewell to an Old Friend
Beautiful post Ashley…..our prayers are still with you and your family. Great pics and stories of your dad!
Thank you for sharing this with us. It sounds like his life was celebrated just the way he would of wanted it. You come from an amazing family Ashley so much to be proud of.
prayers for the repose of your father’s soul.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Amen.
“Choose joy” thank you for sharing. Each and every day, moment, is such abprecious gift from God. After reading this I’m thanking the Lord for what He has given me and determining to live each moment to it’s fullest. Praying for your family.
WoW, what an amazing tribute to your father! I lost my father when I was just a teenager so I know what you are going thru. Cherish the memories, it appears as tho there are MANY ! I too believe your little Boo might’ve been on to something outside w/ “Norman”. {HUGS} & prayers.
Thank you SO much for sharing all of this! I’ve had some very loved ones pass and this really in encouraging and I truly believe Boo saw “Norman”. We love you Ashley and I hope you know we all hold you close to our hearts and are praying for you and your family!
’tis 12:30 am … and this was our bedtime reading for tonight … thank you for sharing this Ashley … thank you from the core of my heart!
You shared this in such a way that I couldn’t read it without tears. We had a similar situation with my now 4 yr old and her grandpa (my father-in-law)that passed away a little over a year ago. He was 49. She “saw” him on several occasions. It freaked me out a little, but made me smile as well. I would recount the event to my mother-in-law and it always seemed like it was on a day she needed it most. I’m most sad that my girls don’t get to have him in their lives longer. My husbands and my stories will have to carry his memory on for them. I only hope we can do him justice. We love you Ray!
God bless you Ashley and your family. And thank you for sharing this loving tribute.
Dear Ashley,
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I’m touched by the farewell you gave your dad, I’m pretty sure he was beaming down on you all, seeing how lovingly you’ve sent him off.
Wishing you and your family lots of love and strength for the time to come.
Hugs from The Netherlands
Brigitta
What a blessing to have such a wonderful father and close-knit family. I’m so sorry for your loss. Love the story about Grandpa wanting to talk to Grandma on the porch. Sometime children just know things that we don’t….
Oh Ash….. You’re soo strong to be able to even write this… Thank you for sharing your dad with us… Thank you for showing us so many beautiful intimate details of his life your life and the time you shared with your mom and siblings this past week. The world truly did lose a man that was a ray of sunshine! I can see why we ( your LBB) family love you so much! He did a fantastic job raising a beautiful family… My heart is with you, with your mom, your family. Hold on tight to those you love… Squeeze a bit tighter… And know your dad is always with you…. Love you…. Trisha and family…
Your homage to your father was so touching. I read with a tear in my eye. I wish you joy and strength to get through this tough time. Thank you for sharing.
“choose joy.” simple. beautiful. what an amazing post. i’m so glad to know that you, your family, and your father are surrounded by such strength and love. and boo…i love it. i love that she recognized that your father was with you guys. what a fabulous viewing and service. really, i can just *feel* that your father is just beaming with pride and basking in all the love.
sending love to you, your family, and your father.
big hugs to you ashley. you seem to be doing so well and allowing yourself to have ups and downs. so healthy. do know we all love you out here in cyber land and understand if there are times when you just need a break.
much, much aloha to you.
Absolutely beautiful tribute to your Dad, Ashley! What an amazing man! Thank you for sharing your stories with us. Special memories to hold on to forever! You have a beautiful family that can continue on knowing your father is so proud of each and every one of you. We will pray for continued healing. Bless you!
This was so beautifully written Ashley. You have a way with words and people. Your father sounds like an amazing man. My prayers are with you and your family. ((hugs))
As I sit here with tears in my eyes, to say those were beautiful words and pictures about your dad! You are very fortunate to have such wonderful photos and he truly sounds like a amazing father, friend, person, husband, grandfather, etc.! I hope you all get the peace that you need from lil boo! I believe that children do know and feel these things! (we had an episode like that with a loved one that passed over very quickly) Good luck and thanks for sharing these beautiful words! God Bless you!
thank you for sharing your story. I have bookmarked this page to re-read. i love your message to choose joy. I needed to hear that today. What a wonderful family you have. Prayers to you!
Ashley,
Your father’s life touched many, now his legacy has passed to those left behind. Be encouraged in your work and life as you carry on that legacy. Shed tears because they comfort your soul and bring peace to your heart. Blessings to you and your family…the Joy of the Lord is your strength.
Ashley, It was wonderful to see you, your Mom, Perry and Swen at the visitation. The Norman Hall was, indeed, fabulous–I loved seeing all the stages of Norman and Shelley and the growing family and golf legacy. “Choose Joy” sums it all up. I know with your families strong faith and love the bittersweet of Norman’s passing will continue to focus on his beautiful and fun life lessons will spread his gift to “touch” people’s lives. I talk to my Mom every day and hear her in so many ways. I also have as much fun with my 97-year old Dad knowing that soon he, too, will be our guardian angel. Give Boo a hug and thank her for being the one to see Norman on the porch. Shelley is a strong gal and I will continue to be in contact with her. Please resend me her phone number though. She told me she would Facebook and e-mail better. I am now going to design and paint a collage similar to your tutorial of children’s names only with “Choose Joy” to hang where I will see it every day. I am also going to go purge my “stuff” of meaninglessness and focus on things of joy and meaning. Thank you for your words and I am truly blessed to have known your Dad and to know your Mom and you (don’t know Swen and Perry so well). I told Boo I had known you when you were a little girl like her and about scouts etc. She though that was pretty cool. I told her that even though I live way over here and she lives way in California that it took TWO planes to get her here….I still see her and you and your beautiful clothes on my computer so I would see how big she is growing and some of the fun things she is doing. I KNOW she chooses joy daily!!! Anyway, take care and God Bless.
Helen
I don’t know you personally, nor did I know your father.. obviously but from your writing, I feel like I have gotten to know a great man.
You write beautifully and you have posted some wonderful memories that I hope you treasure forever.
Gob Bless you and your family in this difficult time.
Thank you for sharing such tender moment with us. I don’t think you are crazy for thinking that your Dad was really there and that Boo knew it! When my grandpa died when I was in the 3rd grade I was having a hard time with it. I woke up one night to find him sitting at the end of my bed. We had a conversation about heaven, my grandmother who died before I was born, and how I should not be sad but to have a long and happy life. He told me he would see me again one day in heaven and he was looking forward to it. It helped me A LOT, I did not have trouble sleeping after that! I will be praying for your family and especially your mother during this first week with so much less to do. This is why I LOVE buying from a company where you “know” the people. I LOVE the connection! Thank you again for sharing your life and the life of your dad with us.
Thank you for sharing, I can not imagine how you must be feeling right now. The beautiful words you wrote about your dad were so touching. I feel like just by reading this I know what a great man he was. Prayers for you and your family.
Ashley, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your father sounds like an amazing man! I love the tribute you and your family planned for him, what a way to celebrate his life. Thank you for sharing it with us. God bless you and your family, and please know that my thought are with you.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I have tears in my eyes and your dad sounded amazing and just the perfect dad a girl could wish for. I hope the next few weeks aren’t too bad for you and your family. I’m glad you know that he’s in a better place now. Thanks for sharing, I’m thinking of you.
Hi Ashley,
I don’t believe much in coincidence- I think of things more along the lines of divine intervention. After a very rough weekned filled with my own personal loss, I woke today feeling very sad and unhappy with my life. I always check in on Facebook each morning- and today your blog post was at the top of my page. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. However, I want you to know how much your post today affected me. “Choose Joy”- words that cause me to reflect and evaluate things differently. Your story of your father and the journey you and your family took this past week is a blessing to me and I wanted you to know that.
Ashley- this was so beautiful to read! What a wonderful way to remember your father! I will be thinking and praying for you this year, especially Father’s day coming up!
Ashley, I have been thinking of you all week. I was with my dad in DC this week. My dad sounds so much like yours. My mom passed away 4 years ago and we always find ourselves laughing at the memories we have with my mom. There is something so powerful about celebrating their lives. I have to say I it gave me chills when I read what Boo said about your dad on the porch. I was just telling someone the other day about something like that with Ella. My mom died when I was 9 months pregnant with Ella. When Ella was 2, she ran to the front door, hardly able to speak well, said hurry mommy, i need to get my rosery for grandma, hurrry she is waiting. My husband was there as my witness, as no one would have believed it. She had a wooden rosery, that my mom had given my 14 year old years before Ella was even born. She went and got it and hung it on the front door handle. When I questioned her, she said grandma is right there, can’t you see her?? She pointed out our large glass door up into the clear sky. She bounced around for awhile and then went on with her day. There have been a handful of other times when she stops and talks about her grandma, whether it be a kiss on her cheek or her looking over her. Ella never even met her, as she was born a few weeks later. I was pregnant with Ella’s twin and lost him, so I always thought my mom was there to watch over him. It is a miracle and blessing Ella has that “bond” with her grandmother. So Boo seeing her grandpa, to me, is truly your dad!! I am glad you were able to celebrate his life and thank you for sharing your story. He is one lucky man to have such and amazing family!! There is no doubt he is up in heaven smiling down telling all the folks up there all about his amazing family. Maybe he will run into my mom, she is great company and would be able to show him around!! She would be happy to play a round of golf with him, too. She was pretty good in her day!!
What an amazing tribute to your father, he sounds like an incredible man! Praying and thinking of you and your family. “Choose joy”…what a perfect message.
I’m glad you are home. You write wonderful things about your father. It inspires me to live with such joy in order to leave a legacy of joy to my family and also hopefully spread some around on earth. We never know our time to go. Joy is a great thing to live with and to leave behind. You and your family will continue to be in my prayers.
I can’t help but feel like God is using you to help me in what my family is about to face. And I’m sure many others. Thank you for sharing all of this. We have been working on trying to plan things for my mother-in-law as her time is rapidly approaching. She has chosen to be cremated and she didn’t want any memorial service. We managed to get her to come around on that when we told her it’s not for her, she’ll be gone! 🙂 She’s very open to talking about it. She actually was giddy the day we all met with the crematorium. She’s so ready to go home to heaven. Anyways, we are actually looking at having her memorial at a park. Grill after for lunch and make sure there is a play ground for the kids. She has so much love for her grandbabies. The only item on her bucket list was to see my daughters play one more softball game. And we were able to do that for her a couple weeks ago. I love the fact that my daughters will grow up knowing they were that important to her.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us. No doubt, God is using your sharing to help many others as well. May God bless you and comfort you and yours as only He can.
alisha
What a beautiful tribute, Ashley. I learned so much about your father from this post, and I love the motto “Choose Joy”. There are so many things we can’t control in our lives but something we can do is choose how we react to things and live our lives. It’s a lesson I learned with a lot of difficulty and it’s still a constant struggle; thank you for the reminder today of what’s important.
I had the same reaction to all the unimportant “stuff” I’m surrounded by when my aunt passed away two years ago. She had only a bible by her side in her last 10 days in the hospital and hospice. Another aunt told me that be it things or people, what matters is if they brought you happiness. We are a sum of our memories, too, sometimes those memories are brought about through or by things.
My thoughts are with you and your family. Thank you for this thought-provoking post.
Grace
Thanks for sharing. Your Dad sounds wonderful, although wonderful isn’t the right word. Any who knew him or just met him must have been very lucky. He is a man one could never forget. I wish I have one of the lucky ones. I’m so sorry for your loss but you were very fortunate to be his daughter. One day you’ll all be together again. Your posting about your Day have brought tears and smiles and warmth to my heart. Thank you so much for letting us see him through his daughter’s eyes.
Oh my goodness, I don’t know you or your father but not only do I want to know you both but I want my life to be like his with all of that love that surrounded him in the end. Not to mention I want you to plan my funeral. Holy cow, makes me wish I saved more than I did. Sending you comfort the only way I know how, glad that you are at peace and thanks for sharing this ever so personal moments with us.
Ashley, your dad sounds like he was just so amazing! Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute with all of us!
What a lovely tribute. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Your dad will truely be missed. I think it is amazing that Sienna can see or sense him! I think it is great that she got to meet him and be close to him before he passed. She will forever remember him 🙂 Your post was amazing! And so was his tribute!
What beautiful memories you have of your Dad. I pray that those memories will comfort you in the coming days, weeks and years, and that he will be a very present comfort to you.
Your first post about your dad stayed with me all day. I was so heartbroken for you. I still am. But he sounds like an amazing man, and I think you did a superb job celebrating his life.
Beautiful. Beautiful Father, beautiful life, beautiful family, beautiful memories. Blessings and special prayers to you and your family.
Sheila
Thank you for sharing this with everyone. Your father sounded like a great man!
Ashley, your post brought tears to my eyes. I was moved by what happened with Boo and my husband felt the same way when I read it to him. I am truly sorry for your loss. Your father sounds like an amazing man!
Thank you for sharing about the precious Legacy of your Daddy. Oh how my heart aches for you and your family, but rejoices with you as you celebrate his life on earth and on the other side. I just finished Heaven is for Real last week, amazing, may the Norman wind continue to blow. Love and Blessings
Thank you for sharing your father with us. He sounds like a wonderful father as well as a wonderful person. I was very moved by his visit on the deck. That is the kind of thing we pray for when someone we love passes.
I lost my Dad 2 years ago but he has been with me every day in spirit. It is such a gift when you feel their presence in your heart. I know you will feel the spirit of your Angel with the putter.
Just think you are the person you are today because of his influence and love. He will always be with you even when he is playing 18 holes with Jesus.
Oh what a beautiful tribute to your father. It has brought tears and an ache in my heart for you. I lost my mother suddenly 8 years ago and she was 58. No matter the age or circumstance, it is always harder for those left behind.
Your father sounded like an amazing man and I pray you find courage in knowing he is in a good place.
Hey maybe my mom has taken him under her wing and is teaching him the ropes.
ou will get through this. It is hard, I won’t lie. And honestly it doesn’t really get easier. Maybe its just that you start to feel numb to the pain.
You are in my prayers my dear!
Megan
Thanks for sharing Ashley. Such a beautiful tribute to your father. I wish I could have known him! Cherish your memories and know that you will always have your “daddy” with you in your heart. God bless you and yours.
Even with all of your amazing projects and clothes and art, this is BY FAR the most beautiful thing I have seen on this blog. Your father was truly an amazing and inspirational man. I think I will go call my dad just to tell him I love him today. My prayers are with you, Brett, Sienna and your brother and sister and their families, and of course your mom. May peace be with you Ashley.
What a wonderful post! After reading that, I really want to hit reset on my own life. There is nothing better than a charismatic, joyful person. It doesn’t matter what you accomplish in life if you are a happy person. People are drawn to those type of people and it makes a real impact on others to be around them. I’m so glad to hear that you are seeing that your dad really did live such a full and amazing life, even though he did it in 64 years. I’ll take his story with me today and it really will inspire me to be joyful, even when it doesn’t seem so easy.
Ashley, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your posts about your father have brought me to tears. Your family is so close and special, I can feel it through your writings. You can also see your father’s happiness through the photos you have posted. Thanks for sharing about your father and letting him touch our lives too. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Ashley, so sorry for your loss. I’ve been behind in keeping up with the blogs I follow and just read his today. Oh how it makes me miss my own Dad, he died after a brief fight with colon cancer 9 years ago and everyday I think of him some way or another. Your comment about how he knew it was his last trip and if he knew something you didn’t, I totally believe that. My Dad was at home with hospice for a few weeks and we sat with him everyday, finally the day after Thanksgiving my four brothers left to go do some things leaving my Mom and I at home. Sure enough he passed away at that time, I think he knew deep down that my brothers wouldn’t be able to handle being there when he took his last breathe but that my Mom and I could do it. So that’s how he did it, with my Mom and I praying over him and telling him it was okay to let go, we cleaned him up and then called the hospice nurse. I will always cherish that time as strange as that might sound. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. My daughter is almost 4 and obviously never met my Dad but when she was 1 on the day of my Dad’s birthday she looked at his picture and blew a kiss, I swear she actually saw him.
What an amazing man. Thank you for sharing. We are truly blessed to be able to share in this with you. You and your family are in our prayers.
Ashley, your strength is such an amazing tribute to your Father. He seemed to have been a man that was a genuine leader, teaching his family and those around him how to enjoy life to it’s fullest. He must have been so proud to see the way he was honored among his family and friends.
The Boo story is something I have heard about before. Simply incredible!
I’ll keep you all in my prayers! xoxo
I read this post and found your strength amazing. I don’t normally comment on many posts of people – especially lately. But I had to come back and tell you that my heart felt heavy for you and your family. I recently just read the book Heaven is for Real and isn’t it amazing how it gives this sense of peace in regards to life after death? I had a baby girl not make it into this world alive and when I read that book I sobbed and sobbed tears of joy – I know your dad is waiting for the day he can hug and love you all in heaven <3 Thank you for sharing him with us.
Obviously Ashley your father succeeded in raising an amazing person whose eye for detail and focusing in on the moments that take our breath away are what really count in this life. Because of you, I’ve learned about your father and I have no doubt of how proud he would be of you right now. In return, Sienna is will have this beautiful account of your time spent back there to read when she is older and from it, she will be able to feel the love and emotion that was all wrapped up between you and your dad and your family. What a gift. You are something, Beautifully shared Ashley.
Love,
Kristen Tanner
What an amazing tribute…your father would be proud! This is why I love blogs…they bring people together. I’ve read your blog for the past year for the craft ideas but you gave me a little piece of you (and your dad) today and I will be forever grateful as I will use it to remind myself to “choose joy” everyday! Thank you for that…and may god be with you during this difficult time. And don’t be surprised if Boo has many more “sightings” of your dad…it’s very common for kids to be more in touch with the other side than we are. My girlfriend’s son saw her mother ever since she passed away last year. She finds it very comforting:)
xo,krista
As I read about your fathers passing tears are streaming down my face. I am all too familiar with your experience. My father passed away 5 years ago unexpectedly after a family ski trip in Colorado. We were all left shocked and stunned. My sisters and I have since created a new normal but I miss my dad everyday. I so admire the way that your family has honored your dad and the brilliant way that you write about him.
Blessing to your family~
ps… Like Boo, my son also would “see” my dad and he did for almost a year!
Thank you for bringing us all along for that journey. I am glad I got to know more about him. I was cracking up, crying and smiling from ear to ear reading your recount of the last week.
And Boo seeing him…..well…….amazing and I hope that’s a memory she’ll remember forever.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us, Ashley.
Off to see Mr. Reeve’s memorial, thank you for honoring a fallen soldier. Very selfless and sweet.
Thank you for sharing your amazing story, it moved me to tears. I have just finished reading the same book, I truley believe that children are more in tune with God and Heaven than we are. Your dad was there. I am so sorry for your loss, he sounds like a remarkable man.
Blessings,
Monica
my dad lost his brother two nights ago and so death and family has been weighing heavily on us. After reading this post I actually sent this post to my dad (he is most definitely not a blog reader!) because the way you described your dad is how i hope to eloquently write about my dad (who seems to be very similar) when his time comes. Thinking lots about you guys!
Your tribute to your Dad was beautiful and very touching.
How lucky and blessed for you to have had such a wonderful father.
Thank you for sharing such sweet and tender moments of your life.
I too, am very moved by your words.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I just had to post again. Today at my mother-in-law’s, she told me about a book she’s reading. I’m pretty sure It’s just called “Heaven”. I told her about you and reading your story and the book you recommended. And low and behold, she just finished reading it and handed it to me. 🙂 She was in a great mood today. It’s been a really rough week for her. The end of her time on this earth is very near. And she is so ready to go home to our Lord.
May God continue to be with your mother, yourself, and siblings and all those affected by the passing of your father.
Norman was a gentleman, and an amazing fellow.
He has, obviously, left a legacy of an ‘amazing’ family, as well.
I was so touched to read your blog about your father’s impacting others and to Choose Joy. The mind is such a powerful thing- choosing joy, should be easy, but life happens as your Dad said, and we need to “practice choosing good things and thoughts,” or we get sucked into the negativity that creeps into our lives. Your Dad was a good example for us all. Loosing my father many years ago, made me realize that as a daughter, it’s so important for a Dad to say he loves you, but more important show it, and yours did.
My daughter, Meghan, on the Future’s Tour, shared this with us- your blog and we are so thankful that she did. We need to be reminded of what we choose to think.
Hang in there, the pain of the loss of your Dad will lessen, but the memories never fade.
I am so sorry for you loss. This moved me to tears and I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Keep strong.
I think everyone who crossed paths with your dad was definitely blessed. Thanks so much for sharing your story. It certainly is a great reminder to me to embrace every moment with a joyful heart because I’d love to be remembered in the same way that you will remember your dad.
what a sweet and wonderful post on your father! thank you for sharing your heart! it made me cry!
A lovely tribute to your father! 🙂
I want to give you the HUGEST hug! I am so sorry for your loss of what I’ve read the best dad & person ever! I read every word & cried when you handed over your book…. I cannot stop crying… it all came back to me. The loss of my dad in 2000 & the loss of my big sister in 2006. Wow. I totally believe Miss Boo saw your dad too. I had so many things happen where my little ones & my husband and I were contacted & let known that they were still here for us. My heart aches for you & your family. Amazing & beautiful job w/everything your family did for your dad to celebrate his life. Love those photos of your parents as well. Wow. xo
I boo hoo’d reading this! I could not fight back the tears. I am sending my condolences to you and your family. But I have to say that you guys put on a wonderful “homecoming’. I love that you celebrated his life vs. his death. And I do believe Boo saw your father. Kids have that 6th sense.
he looks so happy and it’s obvious how close your family is. God take care of all of you
Ashley,
I recently found your blog from a friend who loves your products and you! And while on your site I saw the picture of your dad. It could have been my dad. (the golf style and poses are so similar!) My dad, like your’s has been a constant golfer and lover of family all his life. Reading about your mom and dad, your family and your love for each other was amazing and has me in tears. I know I’m months late, but I had to tell you how much your posts about your dad touched me. I originally got on to tell you I was praying for you as you go through your journey w/chemo and your sickness, but I ended up being blessed by your writing! Please know you and your family are in my prayers. Stay strong and remember Jeremiah 29:11. It has always gotten me through some tough times. You are a blessing!
What a beautiful tribute to your dad. I am so sorry for your loss. Good for you choosing joy 🙂
I just wanted to let you know that I am so sorry for your loss. What a truly inspiring man. My sister in law sent me the link to your elf on the shelf photo shoot and I have spent the last hour with tears in my eyes, and a smile on my face.
Best of luck to you in your journey.
Thank you for sharing your Father with us.
I am so sorry for your all your family is going through. I will say though that your post moved me tremendously and made me wish I had known your father. People like him are rare and they truly are treasures. Peace to you and your family.
O Ashley, now that Im catching up with your entire blog I see this…the parellel of our father’s existance in life and death is amazingly similar from the move, to the photos to the life they lead.
My thoughts are with you and the family as you “pass” through so many obsticles of life all at once.
Love and strength to all
Cyndy
Ashely, this post is amazing, I have read it before and came though it again while reading the Team Ashley post at Evy’s Tree… it is so sweet to read all the beautifull things you have to say about your father, and I have to say it makes me jealous somehow… my father never was there for me, the practically run away from my life since I was a baby and appeared in counted occations and never showed love or even care about me, it took me all my life to get over it, well… I will never get over it completelly I guess, but I choosed joy for my life. appreciate the good things and get over the bad times and be happy.
You must be so proud of your father, there should be more fathers like yours in this world.
Like I have said before you are an inspiration, first in crafting and blogging and now in life. You share all your memories and thoughts so positively and from the heart that people should read though your posts to learn to bring possitive energy and thoughts to their lives.
I hope you get well soon!
I was just reading about your dad. It moved me to tears. You are so lucky that you had such an amazingly wonderful father. I hope that some day, my little man and future second child will reflect on me with such memories. I have very few memories of my dad- Not because he passed away young, but because he chose not to be a part of his childrens’ lives. Enough about that. Choose Joy! I love it.
My friend Brandi sent me the link to this page. I just read the entire page aloud to my legally blind husband. My husband is a former golf professional and met your dad through Bobby Galloway years ago.
Your celebration of your dad’s life is indeed a joy to read and a tribute to his life!