One Down

Peace and love to you all.

Today was my (Aaron) 36th birthday. It was the first birthday that any of us have had without Dad around and it was strange. Some of the traditions and things that we usually would do just weren't in place and I don't know that they will be again.

However, it was a genuinely good day. We went out to lunch to a place here in town called Crave and it was delicious. We walked around the mall a little, ran a few errands, then came back and spent the day relaxing. For dinner, we cooked a couple beautiful steaks, sat the table, ate, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company. It was a day without pressure. A day without having to run around and do this or that. 

It was...nice. 

I'll be honest and say that it has been rare since March that any of us have had an unequivocally good day and even rarer that it's we've had one together. 

I still miss him. We all do. There were some tears when looking at pictures or finding notes left around, but there was a lot of laughter as well. Going out, having a nice meal, wandering the mall, and all of that was freeing in a way that is hard to describe for anyone who hasn't been there. 

It was a day of healing, even just a little bit, and for a birthday, I could not ask for more.

May you have days of healing and joy ahead of you. 

Thanks be to God.