This is the night that Aaron became a father. I had to put this photo again. I love how proud he looks of our precious son. Here are just a few of my favorite photos of the two of them.
.JPG)
One of the last photos taken of the two of them together.
Aaron Jr. cut some hearts out of play dough and he brought them to the cemetery to leave on Daddy's grave. It was sweet.
This is Daddy's tie that Aaron Jr is wearing. I love it.
When I snapped this photo, I had no idea it would be one of my all time favorite photos I would ever take... EVER. It brings such emotion when I look at it.
It was difficult yesterday watching other kids with their dads. Aaron Jr is still too young to know what Father's Day is, but it is still so heartbreaking watching him and knowing he doesn't have that father / son time with his Dad. At church, all of the primary kids went up to sing a couple of songs to their dads and Aaron Jr went up for the first time ever. He didn't even go up on Mother's Day. He started to and was about halfway up there, but got nervous and turned around and ran back to me. So, Father's Day was his first time and even though he didn't sing with the kids, he was up there waving at us and it was just so sweet. One of the songs was called 'I'm so glad when Daddy comes home'. It has always been such a sweet song, but listening to the words yesterday was painful. He talks about Daddy still and I am so glad. He knows who is Daddy is and that is comforting. When I think back on the two shorts years Aaron Jr was able to have his Daddy here with him, and I look at the photos, I am amazed at the amount of things we were able to do all together in those two short years. It is almost like they were able to spend enough time together in that time to help make up for several years into the future once he was gone.
One thing I think about often is that I don't want him to feel different than other kids when they are talking about the things they did with their dad over the weekend or the things their dad taught them. Those are the times when my heart will break for Aaron Jr. over and over. I pray that Aaron will be with Aaron Jr throughout his life though. I believe he will be... why wouldn't he be?
Happy Father's Day, Aaron...
We love and miss you...
* * *
18 comments:
Spencer will adopt Aaron as a son. I am sure there are many that are willing to help fill the void. I think that void is the one that sends a jolt of emotion to me the most since Aaron's passing. I would have loved to see how Aaron would have reacted to all of little Aaron's antics. He is such a funny kid. My heart breaks all over again for you and Aaron's loss. We love you .
thank you for sharing. as always, our thoughts and prayers are with you both...
Leslie~
First of all let me start off by saying that I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while. I had a long email all typed out for you a few days ago. Then my computer crashed and I lost it. I never got around to re-writing it. Sorry about that.
Thank you so much for sharing the pictures with us. I loved the one of the two of them on the couch, it was so sweet. I can only imagien the pain and joy it brings you at the same time.
Please know that I'm thinking about you. I think of you and Aaron frequently. I maybe sending you an email as my one year mark is quickly approaching.
Take care and talk to you soon
Jenny
Leslie,
Please know I was thinking of you and Aaron Jr. that day. Those pics are so precious! Braeden is about the age now of how old Aaron Jr. was when he lost his daddy. And, I can't even imagine life without Rob, his daddy-even though sometimes I want to strangle him, I step back and think of you and him. Then, everything is better. I am still so sad for you and Aaron Jr. to have to go through this. It's not fair.
I love you!
Alana
Hi Leslie,
Those photos of the Aarons are beautiful. My favourite is still the one in the cowboy hat. Love that one!
I think of you often.
Love,
Jane
Leslie,
I am in hopes that you are having a great week and that somehow life is becoming easier to handle.
Take care. I think and pray for you often.
Rita
I believe he is too.
My heart aches... Aaron loved being a Dad and was so proud of little Aaron.
Love you two so much.
I remember the day Aaron Jr was born and you are right... there was nothing but pride in Aarons eyes and all over his face as he held him.
That is one of my all time favorite pictures, too. Such a sweet moment you captured! I hope you are doing well...we need to get together SOON!
What precious photos you have of the two of them together. They will surely be priceless treasures to Aaron Jr. just as they now are to you! I am so glad you were so camera happy. Aaron will still know his Daddy this way and through all the stories. Sorry it was a hard day for you. Love to you both. Lori
Thinking of you. Miss you.
Hope you're doing alright...
Hang in there, Leslie!
Thoughts are with you...
Hope you're doing alright...
Hang in there, Leslie!
Thoughts are with you...
Hi Leslie
Just checking in to see how everything is going.
Love to you and little Aaron
Jane
Leaving you a note in hopes that you are having a wonderful day and life is joyous for you in some small wall. Prayers your way.
Rita
It has been a while since you posted and I am hoping that is a good sign, but afraid it is not. I posted once about the loss of my fiance almost 10 years ago in a car accident. The poster above me made a comment about joy that reminded me of something my mom cross-stitched for me shortly after his death. It was Psalm 30:5, which reads, "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning." I don't know why, but that verse has stuck with me through many difficult times and struggles. I had faith at the time my mom gave it to me that what was written was true -- that my weeping would only be a short period of time, and that joy would eventually come in the morning. I HAD to believe it was true, or getting up each day and going through the motions was too painful, absolutely too exhausting to even think about. I want to tell you that I have moved beyond faith into complete knowledge in that scripture. I learned so much. I learned that the scripture had a message of hope and a promise for a better tomorrow, but it also required the weeping of the night. I have complete knowledge that the weeping DOES last the whole night. The length of the night is finite -- it will come to an end - and it must be endured, but the timeframe of night is only known to Heavenly Father. I can honestly say my "night" seemed unbearable at times and the arrival of sunrise seemed sooo far off. And yet here I am, many years later, surrounded by so much joy. It was many years before I married -- I was an old maid by Mormon standards -- but I have three beautiful children. Sometimes the most random comment will bring back the vivid memory of my darkest hours on this planet and/or I'll have dreams of such a sweet nature of my fiance that I awaken filled with a nostalgia that is difficult to shake off with the dawn, but the smile of my 2 year old daughter, and bickering of my 2 older children, and stern "knock it off, you two" of my husband brings the joy of the morning so fully back into my life.
My heart resonates so keenly with what you express and the hills and valleys you experience with this terrible loss. I wish I had something to bring the dawn more quickly into your life, but I know to the depths of my soul, that the weeping of the night serves its purpose just as much as the joy from the dawn.
My prayer is that you endure the weeping with a faith (and my testimony) that the dawn will indeed bring great joy.
Thinking of you tonight, Leslie. I hope you are doing well.
Leslie,
As always, your posts touch my heartstrings. You're in my thoughts along with Aaron Jr. Blessings your way--
Post a Comment