The Rowans 4: February 2012

Saturday, February 18, 2012

1 year

Well one year down... its been a whole year since I last saw my Daddy. It hurts to miss someone so much. Even though I miss him terribly, I just have to remember that he is so happy and in the presence of Jesus. If that isn't comforting I don't know what is. It's just so hard to be on this side of heaven where we still miss him so much. But one thing is for sure, he is still, and will always be a part of our everyday lives. Even little Callie talks about her Pap a lot. Yesterday I was sitting on the floor with her and I told her that I loved her very much. Right after I said that she said "Pap"? And I said, yes your Pap loves you too! As big as the sky! Then she said "sky"! It was one of the sweetest moments ever, because she has never said that before and somehow it just came to her. Every time that my Dad held her he would repeat over and over that he loved her as big as the sky! :) Every now and then I'll ask Callie, "Do you know where your Pap is? He is in heaven! Do you know who he's in heaven with?" and Callie says "Jusus". :). I wish we could have him back as healthy as can be. But since we can't, it comforts me to know that he is somewhere right now (in heaven) as healthy as can be! I wonder if he gets some kind of cake for being there for a year now? Haha! Dad would want us to be happy and tell funny stories today so that's what I'm going to do! Matt and I have laughed and cried almost in the same sentence just remembering all of the goofy things he said. Haha! There is so much I could say about this day and about my Dad, but the words just wont come. All I can say is that I love him, I miss him and I am so thankful that God took mercy on him and called him home one year ago today. Here are some verses that I think are encouraging for a day like this: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. - Revelation 21:4 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. - Philippians 1:21-23 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. - Philippians 3:20-21 Here are a few random picture of my Dad! I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend! Love you all!

Lindsey's HS graduation! :)

Matt and Dad with the T-6.

At Matt's Pilot training graduation!

Dad and the "Del Rio Kid"! Hah!

Such a great pic of Mom and Dad in Colorado!

Dad, Matt and I and the winery in Del Rio.

What can I really say about this pic..?!

Pap teaching Callie about the trees.

The day he became a Grandparent!

Dad walking me down the isle on my wedding day!

Love this picture!

One of my fondest memories!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

February!

Can it really be February already? WOW! It seems crazy that its almost been a year since Dad made his trip to heaven. I miss him terribly, but I praise God that he is breathing with ease, and in absolutely no pain. But it still hurts. And I wish he was here so badly... healthy of course. February is a bittersweet month because I have always loved the fun of Valentines Day, but k]now it is also the month I lost my Dad. It's really easy to feel sad, but I can just hear the Lord reminding me that he is well, and I will see him again. I still feel sad, but comforted to know that 1 year ago my Dad went from this crazy messed up world into paradise. I am so thankful that my dad had a personal relationship with Christ and that death on Earth is just the begining of his Life.

Well in other news, Callie is almost 20 months old! She is the sweetest, cutest most independent child EVER! She is talking up a storm. She is starting to talk in mini sentences, which is really fun! I love hearing her try to put words together! At bedtime she HAS to sleep with her favorites: baby, Dora and Hat (hat is a Cat in the Hat stuffed animal). Every night after we say her prayers she says, "night night baby, night night Dora and night night hat". It is precious. Callie is very good at letting me know what she wants, and does not want. Like I mentioned above, Callie is very independent. Well at least she really wants to be. She doesnt want help with ANYTHING. She doesnt want to hold hands while walking, she doesnt want help with her food or her drink. She wants to do it all by herself. If by chance you do try to help her... she gets quite frustrated. Slowly but surely though, she is starting to respond to discipline and the word no. YAY! Most days we can go to the store without a meltdown! YAY! This makes me very happy and more inclined get out of the house. We have spent a lot of time here during her tantrum phase... haha.

Callie continues to be fasinated with letters. She points them out when we are out and about. She loves seeing them and knowing what they are! She still has trouble with the letter R, but shes got the rest down pretty good. Numbers and counting are fun too lately. She loves to "count"... its more like "one, one, one!" Sometimes she gets the two, but mostly one. She knows her shapes and some of her colors. She is learning new things left and right. Oh another fasination lately is stickers. She loves them. Matt's mom "Gaga", bought her some Dora stickers when we came to Texas in January and there has been no turning back! Outside time is also one of her favorite times of day. She loves playing in her house and just running around. Well enough of my jibber jabber... her are some pictures of my sweet.