A little over a year ago my Dad passed away. It doesn't seem possible to me that an entire year has gone by.  When you lose someone you love, the grief can be overwhelming at times. I honestly do not know how people can deal with any kind of loss without God. He truly is my Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

I still find myself moving back and forth between some of the stages of grief, and it's funny, some of the things that can trigger feelings of deep sadness over my Dad can be so unexpected. It can be something as simple as seeing a bottle of Karo syrup on the shelf in the grocery store (my Dad had pancakes every Sunday with Karo syrup) or even just walking into a Home Depot. He loved working with wood and always had some sort of project going. The last couple years of his life his COPD made it difficult to breathe around sawdust, but he persisted, doing a little at a time, because he loved working with his hands. One of the last things he made for each of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren was a covered wagon light. I love that lamp. It inspires me to press on. I miss you Dad.