November 12, 2015
My Jessie Journal:: Hi Sweet Pea…it’s daddy! I hope you are doing well. You know I miss you to the moon and back. Always have and always will.
I was wondering if it changes climates in Heaven. It’s starting to get colder down here…you loved going to Colorado and playing in the snow…does it snow there?
It’s been a bitter sweet week for all of us. The bitter part was learning that your great grandfather “Papa Si” joined you. He was 98 years young and an incredible man. I just loved this picture of the two of you. He was an Iowa farmer all of this life and we would go back to visit him at the farm as a family. This picture was from the very first trip. I’m sure you two are together now and he is helping the big guy farm the crops for everyone. Please give him a big Jessie squeeze for all of us.
It was also tough looking back at pictures of you when you were just a little one…your smile always gave life to others and made any day a better day. I miss seeing your smile. I miss touching your skin. I miss whispering “love you” in your ears. I miss Eskimo kisses at night. Remember our little saying every night before you went to bed? I would say…“Eskimo kisses I love you Jessie” then you would say, “Eskimo kisses I love you daddy”. Dang I miss those!
Basically I miss YOU! I know I taught you to never “hate” but I hate cancer. I hate what it did to you and what it did to our family. I hate seeing other kids and families impacted by it.
The sweeter part of this week is actually today…I get to go share your story with 300 elementary students. Sure it will be hard in some ways but it will be great in others. You have been on your mission trip for almost 4 years and still making an impact and inspiring others to think beyond themselves. That is so cool!
One lady you have inspired I met last weekend when I was at Relentless Detroit. She shared with me how your strength to fight cancer gave her strength to deal with an eating disorder. WOW Jess…it’s so amazing how a 12 year old can help people much older look at life in a totally different way. I’m so darn proud of you and just love being “Jessie’s Daddy”. You inspire me daily to look around and find people who need a dose of hope, joy and love. Thank you!
I’ve never done this but I’m going to give it a try…. “Eskimo kisses…I love you Jessie. Eskimo kisses…I miss you Jessie. Eskimo kisses…I LOVE being your daddy.”
xoxo
daddy
