I am so sorry AngelaJo. I sure wish you didn't have to split up the service and burial. Sending you support today.

Angela, your Dad has not gone as he is still with you in spirit. Your Dad will be at your wedding no matter who will walk you down that aisle. I think that you and your Mom will benefit a lot from grief counseling. After my Dad had passed on, my Mom wanted to follow him and did all sorts of things to meet her goal. I had to enrol Mom into these social support groups which take Mom to social outings and gatherings that take her mind off the grief. But I know how you feel: when you are barely handling the grief and the loss of your Dad, and being compelled to support your Mom in her grief at the same time. You can do this Angela. It may feels horrible now but this will soon pass. The grief and memories shall stay forever, but the pain will lessen over time. Take care, and God bless. Many hugs :) Marie

Hi Angela! Hang in there. It's always hard to let go of your loved ones. But you have to eventually. Try accepting the reality and pray for his soul to rest in peace.

Angela, I'm here to share that I remember the feelings you're going through. So many uncertainties when a patriarch of your family leaves so suddenly.

When my dad passed, he did more than just pass from this world, he also passed onto us three kids the roles my Dad played in our family. And although it was unwanted, it was what we had to do. And knowing how you have cared for your family through out the years, I have no doubt in my mind you will do the same. I made it my goal to live life the way how my Dad did.

But now is the time to grieve. Trust that the Lord has led you to this very point. He has made you so much stronger, he has brought you a new love, whom you plan to marry soon, and I look forward to your new growth.

One thing that has always helped me through out all of these years has been to hold onto the memories that would make my Dad laugh. We still talk about them today and it's been 24yrs now. Wow, I have lived longer w/out my Dad in my life than I have ever lived with him. (sorry, I just realized that). I was 23 when my Dad passed away. And while I had a brother and sister, My sis was in Cali and my brother moved out. I was the only one there for my mom caring for her, the house and working 2 jobs.

Anyways, I'm here for you if you want to talk. One piece of advice I was given was to grab a shirt of my Dad's and keep it, I kept it under my pillow at night for the longest time. It might bring you comfort as well.

And I pray for your peace through all of this. My heart aches for your loss.
Hugs to you...

AngelaJo --

Everyone says "Grief is a process."

What they fail to mention is that the process totally sucks.

There will not be a day when you wake up and don't miss your Dad. But one day you will miss him and laugh because of the good memories instead of being stuck in the feeling where you are presently.

The key is getting to that day.

And the wedding thing. I wasn't even engaged when my Dad passed, and a bunch of putzes didn't hesitate to point out that he wouldn't be able to walk me down the aisle. To this day his brother barely speaks to me, primarily because I didn't ask him to walk me down the aisle when I did get married. Hate to break it to him, but he was WAY down the list for whom I would have asked to begin with. (My brother did it because we are close.)

But anyway, the point is that you can work that out. It's a problem for a different day. Lots of people now, because of ALL sorts of reasons, find someone else to do that task. My one friend is just not close with her Dad, so she walked herself down the aisle!

This surreal feeling won't go away today or tomorrow or next week either. And one day, 5 years from now, on a perfectly ordinary day, it will blindside you again for no apparent reason.

Just keep hanging in we are here for you!

Thank you everyone i am just exhausted today was incredibly hard