Dear Kim,

We seem to have a lot in common...even our names :-) . Thank you for reaching out to me. My parents and I are originally from Indiana. I only moved to Florida ten years ago after they did when I went through a divorce. My dad was actually my step-father. He dad raised me since I was 14 but my real father wanted nothing to do with me. He took the time to earn my trust and really prove that he loved me too, not just my mom. And when I turned 18, he adopted me so I could legally be his daughter and my other father couldn't stop it. He was there for the birth of my daughter even though he swore he wouldn't hold her until she was one. He was afraid he would break her. I made sure He held her within the first hour. He never let go, she's always been Grandpa's girl. He also died at a way too young 62. We were on our way to make the funeral arrangements. And as I was driving with my eyes filled with tears, and my daughter sitting next to me, I heard the voice of the Lord. He said, " His heart was so full of love for all of you that it couldn't contain it anymore....". We had no idea my father had a heart a problem prior to his death. He died of a massive heart attack from an enlarged heart. He was active, thin, hard-working. But there were a few signs and we should have pressed harder for him to go to the doctor. On the day of the funeral, I went in by myself, it was the first time I had seen him since his passing. We did the viewing and funeral the same day. I walked beside his coffin and there was also the picture I had given them to display and a huge picture board collage of memories I had made and I realized at that moment that MY DAD wasnt there. Only his "shell".....his spirit had already left.... The Lord again was there and showed me something. Larry became my father at 14. He never had any children of his own. Then I had Ally. He was given the first 14 years with her that he never got with me. I just sobbed. She was his little girl just as much as I had been. Her father and I divorced when she was 5 and my dad had filled that void in her life as well. We sometimes just look at each other and the tears come......I believe in Jesus, but I am still struggling and hurting and trying to understand. He worked so hard, 30 years in a steel mill and then kept working at a store just to "stay busy". He had only been retired for less than a year when he was called home.

I had read your story before I ever wrote mine. I figured no one would read it, but just needed to vent. People think you are supposed to just move on after a few days. But I think those people either haven't lost or if they have, they haven't truly loved.

I hope your journey has more days of joy, and less days of sorrow,

Kim A.