This is in loving memory of my Father, it is a song by Brad Paisley, & I think the words are appropriate in what my dad is doing.
When I Get Where I'm Going
When I get where I'm going On the far side of the sky. The first thing I'm gonna do is spread my wings & fly. I'm gonna land beside a lion & run my fingers through his mane, Or I might find out what it's like to ride a drop of rain. Yeah when I get where I'm going there'll be only happy tears. I will shed the sins & struggles I've carried all these years, & I'll leave my heart wide open I will love & have no fear Yeah when I get where I'm going, Don't cry for me down here.
I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy & he'll match me step for step & I'll tell him how much I've missed him every minute since he left, then I'll hug his neck
When I get where I'm going Ther'll be only happy tears I will shed the sins & struggles I've carried all these years & I'll leave my heart wide open I will love & have no fear. Yeah when I get where I'm going don't cry for me down here.
So much pain & so much darkness in this world we stumble through All these questions I can't answer So much work to do But when I get where I'm going & I see my makers face I'll stand forever in the light of his amazing grace!
Yeah when I get where I'm going There'll be only happy tears I will love & have no fear When I get where I'm going, Yeah when I get where I'm going
This is in loving memory of you DAD, I miss you every second, but know you have earned all these things your always in our hearts & souls. And though things are different without you here physically you are always with us in some way, for alll of us Thank you for all the wonderful memories you gave me and my children I will cherish them forever,
YOUR LOVING DAUGHTER,
CARRIE ANN
Dear Dad, Just wonder if you realize how much I miss you being here. I was reading some of your journals and I never realized how much you did pay attention to everything Suzy, Jon and I did. I miss coming to Moms and having supper with you and visiting about the stuff, nothing to serious and usually just sharing funny things we had overheard or seen. I never realized how much I really depended on that, just those simple things, but I always cherish everything you did for all of us. The way I use to give you such a hard time about buying the 3$ skateboard shirts and you bought two of the same exact ones but you said "well They Were ONLY 3 dollars!" I miss having you around the girls you were so pateint with them and taught ALL your grandkids so much. It will be hard for Mikes Graduation, as he looked up to you soooo much, he's turned in to quite a young man. Maddie is looking forward to 1st grade and beleive it or not Ellen can't wait till kindergarten starts. As Suzy said there are some days that I do not know if I'll make it through, i feel empty knowing I can't race out to the house to see you or just hang out w/ the kids, it has broken my heart. I hope you know how much I LOVE YOU and hope you are able to smile down on us all, we are trying to be strong but it feels too much sometimes as sometimes we all do take the people in our lives for granted, and you were taken too soon, I was suppose to get the chance to take care of you someday daddy. Jon is moving soon and I know we will miss him as he stepped right into your shoes, but I am so proud of him. Well I hope somehow God is Grascious enough to let you know how much we truly loved you even if we didn't always say it.
LOVE YOU DAD FOREVER,
Carrie Ann
Dad-
Just time to let you know all the things I would have called to up date you on by now, Mike is Graduating the 25th of May- wow how can that be, know you'll be here in spirit we will miss you so much that day-well really every day. Kinze is going to be a Junior in a few days and is of course on the honor roll agian- she is such a studier and great student. Gracie and Andrew have started ball practice- I wish I would have invited you to more games in the last years. Mike is also going to state in 2 track events this year I know he misses sharing that with you. We all went to see mom for Mothers Day- sure it's not the same as the flowers you would bring to her but hope it did help. I cooked on the grill but not as good as your steak on the grill.
I know you would not want us sitting around crying about this every day but some days seem so hard. I know you never realized how much our conversations ment to me and how I loved to try to get advice from you which was pretty hard sometimes. You were the typical "I spect" but I'm sure many times you watched me stumble through life knowing that I just had to figure it out on my own, with usually a story or two from you to help me along the way . I miss so much sharing current things with you, I hope in some ways you know what is going on in our lives and you can look down from heaven and be proud of the way the kids are growing up and the way we are doing things-but I also hope you don't feel or realize the loss and pain I feel at your not being here. I afraid it would break your heart. We miss you so much. I would give anything for your advice on how to get through this I know that you could help. I remember being with you when Grandpa Reeder died how we went and did chores toghther and talked about some of the great things about him and how I did not want to cry in front of you because I wanted to be strong like you and do the things that needed done and how you talked about your Grandpa Caldwell and told me about him and how he had died and it was very hard for you. These things have helped me through this but I was just not prepared for the way this would feel, I love you so much and I miss you so much I can't imagine how I will get through the next year with out you- holidays and just days in general it is so hard when you are not just a phone call away. I cherish ever memory with you and about you.
Love,
Susan
My best memory with Grandpa Jim is the time he took me fishing. I cought a bass. I think grandpa was proud. I also loved the time he taught me to shoot a gun, and shoot off bottlerockets or whistleing moon travlers. Sometimes he would give me a knife or two.
I wish I'd got more time with Grandpa Jim.
Andrew Caldwell Tomlinson
