Treasure the Time

Several months before my dad was diagnosed with leukemia, I had a strong urge to treasure the time with my dad.  The feeling didn't make any sense as he was very healthy and I anticipated several more years with him.  The lingering feeling that I could not ignore kept coming to me.  When I was with him, it felt so special and I the time with him felt so valuable.

 Visiting my dad on his birthday

Going to Gardiner Village

 This day felt especially tender to me.  I visited with my dad in his 

office and told him that I didn't know why, but I felt like I 

needed to treasure my time with him.  I teared up as I shared

this feeling with him for the first time.  I remember him comforting me
with tender words. My heart felt very full and I felt so glad to
share that moment with him.

Picture 1: I loved watching my dad getting a kick of my kids

poking their fingers through the bears (his wall design)

Picture 3: Once our conversation was finishing up, we heard

my boys just screaming in the other room.  My dad rushed in

and immediately started comforting them.  The boys had blocked

the door with the white board for privacy.  My parents cat emerged

from the closet in the room they were in, terrifying them.
My dad held them close and comforted them for several minutes.
He told them stories of times that he was scared as a boy and
assured them that the cat would do no harm.

My parents are such hard workers!