A Tribute to My Dad~John C. Jenkins

This past week has been the hardest week of my life.

A little over 2 years ago, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. The doctors told him that if he didn't receive treatment, he would probably only be around not much more than 3 months. He still decided not to take radiation or chemo because he said he'd rather spend 11 weeks living than 11 weeks dying. 

Last Sunday, June 1, 2014 I had a date to meet my dad in Scottsburg, Indiana at the Cracker Barrel. We loved to meet there to eat and chat. We had a fabulous time! Daddy didn't look great, but he didn't look as bad as I thought he might. He told us he hadn't been eating much, but ordered the meat loaf anyway. I asked him if he would like to share it, but said he thought he could put a pretty good dent in it. After eating a few bites, he asked if I wanted some and when I said 'no' he asked where the dogs were!

My dad loved to joke around, and Sunday wasn't any different. He was teasing all of us! After our great afternoon, my daddy went home and took a nap and never woke up again. I am so thankful he went peacefully and that I was able to spend the day with him, but selfishly, I wasn't ready for him to go.

My sister and I drove down to his house after he died to comfort our step-mom. On our way back home it started raining very hard, but stopped quickly. The next thing we saw, was a complete rainbow from end to end. It was just what we needed to comfort us and remind us that everything was going to be okay. The next day, my sister saw a double rainbow and yesterday I saw another one. 

At his funeral, each of us kids decided to share a few memories that we had of our father. Some of my memories are:

• Playing airplane on daddy's feet~I felt like I could really fly!
• Pushing daddy's car out of the driveway when he went to work.
• Playing checkers in the garage and ALWAYS losing . . . I think the losses helped me become a good sport!
• Hitting rocks with golf clubs and getting a real butt-chewing!
• Getting to sleep in the back window of the car because I was the oldest. Safety first - NOT in those days!

I am going to miss my dad so much, 

but just like when daddy held me in his loving arms

. . . everything is going to be all right!

Thanks for stopping by to read.