Charles Keith Royce

My dad. I can't believe that this month will be six months since he died. I still have bad days, when I just cry and shake my head in disbelief. It's funny how, while it's been half a year already, I still think it's all make believe and that my dad didn't really die.

My mind will be racing one minute with today's to-do list, then the very next minute I'll be lost in thought about my dad. I can recall much more vividly memories I had forgotten. I praise God for that gift. I sometimes smile, thinking about something my dad would say often. I chuckle out loud when I think of him doing things that embarrassed me. Oh, how I would love to talk with my dad again. I would love to make just one more memory with him. Those feelings, I can tell you, will never go away.

I'm so grateful for the way the Lord has been healing my heart. Each day, I learn more about who God is and that makes losing my earthly father a little more bearable. My Heavenly Father cares deeply about me, I have learned this full well through this time of sorrow and mourning.

My dad was funny. I don't think he minded getting his picture taken, but he never seemed ready! He always has a funny look on his face or his mouth was in such a way as though he was getting ready to say something. I laugh about these things as I look, fondly, at pictures I have of him. I'm going to make a scrapbook of all of these pictures. If you want, when I'm done, I'll show you each page and tell you a story. A picture is worth a thousand words indeed, especially when you're in a picture with someone who is gone. When my thousand words are up for a picture, I'll ask you if I can share just one thousand more. Oh, I would love to talk to you about my dad, about my heart and about how it all fits together.