Tomorrow is Father's Day. Some folks are scrambling to buy last minute cards and gift--others have planned out a day full of events for his or her Dad--some fathers will be forgotten or overlooked. Father's are an incredible gift and far too often overlooked. My Dad was a huge force in forming the person I am today. I lost him when I was only 24 years old. It's been a void that I will never fill. My girls lost their Daddy when they were only 8 and 5 years old. Yet they are so strong, so brave--they have the best parts of their Daddy with them all the time. Ashtyn has his athletic prowess--being an ace at basketball and soccer. Lauren has his quick wit and intelligence. Both have a sassy streak that I am sure comes from Jeff, too.
I know you are proud of them, Jeff. They are your gifts to me and I cherish them everyday--even the loud screamy days! I want you to know that they love you, they miss you and they carry you with them in their little hearts everyday. I promised you to take the very best care of them and love them enough for us both. I think I am succeeding with that promise. I guess we'll know in about 15 more years when they begin lives of their own and have children of their own. I wish we were going out to buy you some cheesy tie that you would wear to please the girls--remember the SuperDad t-shirt and hat we bought one year? Yeah--that was a wardrobe malfunction! Sorry for that one...you deserved the world. All we could give you was a card and a lot of hugs and kisses and a few hours to watch a Cardinals game on TV. But it was all you ever wanted.
You loved your girls madly while you were here with us on earth and I know you continue to love and cherish us. We will always, always love you, miss you, look for you in a crowd...you gave us so much. I am so grateful that we had you--though for too short a time--in our lives.
Happy Father's Day our beloved and cherished Daddy....
Never Gonna Break My Faith is a song from the movie, "Bobby", about Robert Kennedy's life and assassination. The song title represented the way Jeff approached what would be the final months of his life... Louis L'Amour, one of my Dad's favorite authors, has said, "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning." This is how I am now trying to approach my life without Jeff...
The Melton Family
Forever in our hearts...
My husband is Jeff Melton--he is my hero. This blog is dedicated to him, the man he is and his fight to beat Melanoma Cancer--February 2008.
January 2009--Jeff will always be my hero--always. I have decided that this website needs to be dedicated to the works, goals and progress of The Jeffrey A. Melton Urgent Care Cancer Foundation (Jeff's Hope). Today I started Holly's Heart--a place that I can go and write about this new life that I am trying to get used to living. It is where I can express the joys, sorrows, hopes and fears of this new world without Jeff. It is a place for me to write and in the process, heal. The link is below--just click away...
January 2009--Jeff will always be my hero--always. I have decided that this website needs to be dedicated to the works, goals and progress of The Jeffrey A. Melton Urgent Care Cancer Foundation (Jeff's Hope). Today I started Holly's Heart--a place that I can go and write about this new life that I am trying to get used to living. It is where I can express the joys, sorrows, hopes and fears of this new world without Jeff. It is a place for me to write and in the process, heal. The link is below--just click away...
Blog Archive
Fight Melanoma Cancer
Please join us in the fight against Melanoma Cancer. Prevention is so important--use sunscreen, wear hats--they're cool--DON'T use tanning beds. It's just not worth it. See your dermatologist and make sure they have results read by someone reliable. Melanoma Cancer isn't "just some skin that needs to be removed," it's deadly.
Sources of Strength
Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope:
Romans 8:28, 37-39
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to (his) purpose.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, not depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For we are saved by hope:
Romans 8:28, 37-39
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to (his) purpose.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, not depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
New Life Resolutions--for my husband, Jeff, December 29, 2007
In the blink of an eye life changes. It's true. I always thought that was an overused statement, but it's true. One minute I was helping out with the fall festival at my child's school--watching children in a bounce house. The next minute I was shaking at the prospect of what my husband's doctor had just told him. A CT scan showed "nodules on his lungs, lesions on his liver and there is something in the lymph nodes". Melanoma cancer.My husband and I have been through more than most marriages in our 11 1/2 years together. We are so much stronger for it all. We will get through this cancer diagnosis. It means many trips to Houston, Texas, to a world-class melanoma clinic. It means weeks away from our young children--weeks away from each other. It means pumping my husband's body full of biochemotherapy for five straight days and nights. A treatment so rough it is reserved only for the very strongest and "healthiest" melanoma patients. It means an uncertain financial future because we are self employed--there is no vacation time or sick leave. Most of all it means the life we had planned for ourselves no longer exists. While undergoing the biochemo my husband looked at me and whispered "nothing will ever be the same." No it won't, but that doesn't mean it won't be filled with goodness and love and grace and peace. My husband is the epitome of grace. He is teaching me about love and forgiveness, grace and self-sacrifice. I describe bravery in whole new terms. I imagine any family that is or has gone through a crisis can identify with my comments about his or her loved one. I want to appeal to those of us getting ready to make our New Years Resolutions. Instead I challenge you to make a New Life Resolution. Life isn't about competition--who has the bigger house, the automobile with the most gadgets, the newest tech item, the best physique. All those things count for nothing when you are truly challenged in life. Resolve to create a life of love and grace. Build a home of peace--drive to be kind--those random acts of kindness really count for so much more than the balance in your bank account. We have been blessed in all this. Our families, our friends, our church, my husband's clients, my children's schools, our neighbors, perfect strangers at the airports have reached out with prayer and kindness and love and support that goes beyond comprehension. Thank you seems such a trite phrase. This is a good world with good people. Remember to make Gratitude number one on your New Life Resolution. Even in the darkest of times be grateful. Pray, too. Pray and truly believe with your whole heart in whatever Higher Power you worship. Make sure it is a Divine Power--not a power of greed or fear or anger. Add Forgiveness to your list, too. It is a release--it is what allows us--propels us forward. Look Forward--not back--there is nothing in our past that we can change. Our future is in the next minute, the next hour.
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