this memorial day.

i know that memorial day is a day set aside to remember those heroic men and women who have fallen while defending our beautiful nation.

i know that many, many families have sacrificed by allowing their loved ones to be gone for months on end while they still have to deal with daily life without them.

i know that many, many families have had to say goodbye to their loved ones when they least expect it and when it is least convenient.

i know many families have had to bury loved ones prematurely.

for those who are, were or will be in the armed forces or who have family members serving i say thank you.

i am so grateful to live in such a miraculous nation. it is only through the many miracles wrought by our Heavenly Father that we are allowed to have so many freedoms.

and it is only because of those men and women willing to fight for those freedoms that we are able to have them now.

although this is a day to remember those who have fallen from war, i cant help but give the majority of my attention to my dad.

he did not fight for our country, but he was a good man. he did so many good things and helped to make others better. he was a husband, a father, a brother, a friend. a teacher, a coach, a leader.

like those families who have lost loved ones to the despair of war, i mourn for a man who lost his own war- cancer.
my dad has been gone for 10 months now. and i cant help but wish that i was sitting with my mom at his gravesite today.

i know she is sad. i know she misses him and i do too. more than i can properly convey. but i know that now he is fighting for a greater good on the other side. i truly believe that.

the past few weeks have given me the opportunity for a lot of reflection on my life and the way i have handled the trials i have been given. and although i dont feel like i have dealt with things the best way most of the time, i am beginning to appreciate that this is where my life is right now. and i cant always be sad about it. i can be sad that my dad isnt here experiencing the things that i want him to, but i cant be sad that he isnt in pain anymore.

i listened to a talk given by Brent L Top called "What is this thing that men call death" it was given at byu education week and is amazing. i feel like it has really helped me appreciate what a beautiful thing death really is. especially for those people who have lived a good, righteous life. which i believe my dad did.

and for that today i rejoice. instead of feeling sorry that my dad isnt here, i find joy that he lived a good life and is now in a place that he can give all of himself to the efforts that Heavenly Father wants him to do.