Sleep Daddy Sleep

Sleep Daddy sleep, of mother you will dream,
       Know that we are with you, our love runs like a stream.
Whether at your side, or in our hearts,
       we'll make our peace as you depart.
We love you Dear Daddy, each in our own way,
       you taught us each well, and will comfort each other if today is the day.
You raised a great family, some may call it a brood,
      We will lean on each other as your life is construed.
You've led a long life, influenced many lives,
     We know you will go peacefully when your time arrives.
Please know your family is with you, each of us nearby,
     We know that you can hear us as we come to say goodbye.
And when God calls you home, with mother you will be,
     True love reunited, no pain or angst, just together eternally.


**** I love you Daddy. I am so glad we have had these past few months. I'm glad I got to hold your hand, and make you smile, and see some recognition in your eyes. I know you're no longer in pain, and you can rest peacefully now. You are surrounded by those that love you the most. I will always remind my children of your humor and how much you loved your family. I will relish them with stories of backyard BBQS with corn on the cob cooking in a garbage can and tons of hamburgers and kielbasa on the grill. Or how you taught me how to gamble at cards for nickles (and Grandma Christy taught me how to cheat). I will remind them how even though you had so many grandkids and greatkids you never forgot a single one at Christmas. I will tell them that you made the best date nut bread and strawberry jam on the planet!  And I will tell stories to my grandchildren that didn't get a fair chance to know you, and for that I am sorry. Over the last few days since your passing, through today's technology your younger grandchildren and great-grandchildren are leaning on each other. Telling stories of their favorite memories to each other via text message and Facebook, such as all of the varying stories of how you lost your thumb (their favorite, of course was for all the thumb suckers!)  They have talked about special moments you have spent with each one of them. That is the legacy you have left behind. A family though large, and sometimes separated by distance, they love each other very much. I love you Daddy. I will always be your baby, your youngest little girl.****