Friends....

Hey gang,

I know it has been a while since I posted last, sorry had to deal with some heartbreak.
I just wanted to tell you something that happened to me in the past few days.
On, 2/28/10 my father passed away. My heart broke in an instant, and I am still crying over it everyday. I was very close to my father and my daughter who just turned 9 is breaking my heart even more, becuase she is still having a hard time. We had the services and I was going through the guest book, or guest books. Over 600 people showed up to his service, and I know each and everyone of them were touched in a special way by my father.
What I didn't know until today was how many of my friends had driven hours to come to the service. My one friend from California came, and onother one from Hawii flew out. Some people I didn't even get to talk to because it was just so busy all the time.
Today I go and get the mail, there was a card from Tyler Texas. I had no idea who it could be from. I opened the card and my mouth fell open. It was from a friend that I had not heard from or talked to in over 20 years. In the card was a picture of her, myself, and my father riding horses through the fields by her house. In the card she writes this to me,

My Dearest Lori,

I am so sorry to hear about your father. It has been over 20 years since we last saw each other, and when I heard this news my heart broke for you. You may not know this, but I have been Spying (for lack of a better word) on you and your family for the past 15 years. You don't know how much I have missed you and your family. When we moved it was rough and you know that, but I remember your father telling me that he was just a phone a call away if I ever needed anything. Well, I never did take him up on that offer but now I wish I did. My most cherished memory of you and your father was this picture, and how my parents sent the police out looking for us because we were gone 11 hours. What a day we had. Your father took us all over the country side on those horses, and we did nothing but laugh and drive your father crazy by throwing those apples at him. Man when I hit him in the neck and he took off like a bat out of hell on the horse after me I really thought he was going to give it to me when he caught me instead he pulled out his lunch sack and gave my horse an apple and told me I couldn't have one because I threw mine at him. Then we got to the river he threw me in it and said "Now I think we are even". God that day was so much fun.

I

I am not sure if you know this or not but for the last 10 years your father was sending me money secretly. I did not know it was from him until yesterday. Every Friday there was deposit made in my checking account for 150 dollars, and I always thought it was from my parents. (Crazy I know since I haven't spoken to my parents since before we graduated college). For this I will always be greatful. I only found out because when I went to the bank and there was no deposit made on last Friday, I was curious to see what had happened. I asked the clerk at the bank if there was away we could trace the deposits and when she told me where they came from my heart dropped to my stomach, I was in shock. I never personally got to thank him. So I called your mother and she just started to cry on the phone. That is how I got your address and phone number. I will be honest Lori, I can't get up the courage to call you. I know you and I have been friends but what do you say to your best friend in a time like this. Just know that I will always love you like a sister, and I will call you soon, but I know how hard this must be for you, and I know how you are. I will give you the space you need at a time like this. I am always thinking of you now and how I wish I could take away your pain. Please take this picture and remember the good ol' days. Because they are the happiest memeories I have of my childhood.

Love,

Christina

So I wiped away some tears and was getting ready to call my mother. My doorbell rang and I went to get it. It was Christina, she came to see me from Texas. We spent the next 3 hours talking, crying, laughing and crying some more.

The point to my story is that no matter how much time goes by you will always know who your friends are and they will be there in your time of need.

To all you LCB'ers, cherish the true friends you have because you never know when your going to need them the most. I never knew just how much I missed and needed her at this time in my life until she showed up at my door. Now that is a true friend.

LH

i wanna cry that is so sweet

Lori,

I am sorry for your loss hun.  I will keep you and your family in my parayers hun.  Your father may have went to heaven, but it looks like you have a "sister" back.

Shelli

Dear, Lori........first please let me say that I am very sorry that you lost the one person who was and will always be a special to you and your daughter...my thoughts are with you...
I actually cried(I felt your pain!) while I was reading your posts...really touched me
What a great man he was...I can only imagine how much he meant to you and your family and friends.
He may have gone forever but he will forever lives in your hearts that I know. You will never forget all the good he did in his life and the letter from your old friend is a good example of it.
Stay strong,Lori...sorry but that's the only comfort that I can give to you...but I just want to let you know that you are not alone....
I saw this poem and wanted to share with you...

Surrounded by friends
yet all alone
the one I loved
God has called home

the hugs of friends
helps ease the pain
and I know my loss
is my loved one's gain

but tears now flow
across my face
as I long for just
one more embrace

then comfort comes
and I see Christ's face
He hugs my loved one
and I feel God's grace.

hope you feel better...hugs,Nan

Lori,

You truly have moved me.  I'm so sorry for your loss -  your Dad sounded like a wonderful man who will be missed by so many people.  I hope that the pain you are going through eases soon and you can smile when you think of all the great times that you spent with him. 

blue

Thank you for sharing your story with us...It has brought a tear to my eye this morning.

I am so sorry for your loss, and will keep you in my prayers.

                                                              PMM

Wow.....your dad was one, very good and generous man.  God bless him in eternity.

I am so very sorry for your loss. He was a very giving and thoughtful man. He is ,I am sure, still looking out for you and your family. I am so glad your friend is back in your life. God Bless.

Thank you all for your prayers, kind words, and support. It really does mean the world to me. My father was a very good man, I know that he is walking with god, and I do take comfort in that. He may have been as stubborn as a mule, but he always thought of others before himself.

Now he walking with god, I and couldn't ask for anything else. He is at peace and he lived a wonderful life. I may have drove him crazy and made him mad at times, but I used to tell him all the time, "If us kids didn't torment you what else would you have to do and talk about it!" He would always reply "Play my nintendo in peace and stop letting your mother win all the time."

LH

I tell you, that brought a tear to my eye. All those who showed up, those who wrote.

"It is not a question of how much you love, but how much you are loved"

You Father loved many and it shows with all that has happened. May those memories keep tight with you as the days go.

Gen,

Those memories are what is keeping me going. Today Christina and I talked all day about when were kids and all the crazy things we did to my father. Needless to say we are both crying like babies in need of diaper change.

LH