...five years...

five years.

five years ago i sat weeping on the couch in my cousin's living room while she and her husband took their boys out to the porch to give them the life altering news.
even now, typing this, i can recall to memory the exact sound of isaac wailing.

five years ago, keira and i made the 2-hour drive to kansas city to pick up my aunt jane. two girls willing to do anything to help and desperately needing to not sit in a house full of mourners...our own sorrow was consuming us enough.

five years ago, my sister and i sat next to each other holding hands, crying and laughing and crying again, as we looked at photographs of someone who had brought so much love and happiness and joy to our lives.

five years ago today, the world said good-bye to a great man. possibly the greatest man i, or anyone, will have ever known.

five years ago today, william john flanagan left this earth for a greater home.

son. husband. father. uncle. grandfather. friend.

i miss him every day.



***but even in the midst of sorrow, we can still rejoice***
things i am still thankful for:

#51 - william john flanagan - gone...but not forgotten
#52 - legacy - my cousin, joy, found out she was pregnant right after the funeral and the next summer gave birth to a son (daniel william joseph)naming him after the three greatest men in her life - her grandfather, father and husband
#53 - linda flanagan - i think losing my husband would crush me indefinitely; but through all her tears, this lady was still sharing the gospel with attendees of the funeral...because she understands the greater picture and because she's amazing.
#54 - the weather has finally caught up to the season and it feels like fall
#55 - the smell of wood burning on chilly nights
#56 - the sound of leaves crunching underfoot
#57 - keira (bedore) luntsford
#58 - quiet moments
#59 - random phone calls about the most nonsensical of topics
#60 - denise kreighbaum. she's pretty awesome.