Girl's Dance and Dad watches

Cierra the ballet & tap dancer

 Rylee the ballet dancer

Matt with Brooke

So Rylee and Cierra had their dance recital tonight.  They have worked hard.  Dad and I have talked on the phone every single day since his diagnosis.  His plan is to take turns visiting each of his children, staying with them for awhile.  He was going to Judd's today and they decided to come down to watch the girl's dance recital.  So bittersweet.  As it turns out the ride was really hard on him.  A lot of pain.  This will probably be the only visit we get here in our house.  We decided not to tell the girls about his illness before he came - just wanted them to have a good time with him.  They got there just in time to eat a quick bite and go.  After the dance we came back to our house.  Dad gave each of the girls a stuffed bunny and a glowing ball that he called a wishing ball.  He gave the ball one at a time to each of the girls  and asked them to share their wish.  He then gave his wish - for all of his children and grandchildren to be happy and live life to the fullest.  I was trying not to cry but I just couldn't help not.  Between all of that and the fact that Grandpa didn't look so well Elizabeth and Cierra had lots of questions as soon as everyone left so we told them what was going on.  It was hard - they cried and cried and eventually cried themselves to sleep.  They wanted everything that Grandpa had ever given them with them right then.  Their bunnies haven't left their sides.  I am grateful for the gospel in my life that I can have an eternal perspective because for my sake and my children's sake we are not ready to let this man out of our lives.