One Year Down

Dear Pa,

I can't believe it's been a whole year. You were missed, for certain, but it has flown by.

Monkey John is two now. He is really interested in animals (but he is really afraid of animals when he gets too close). He still gets ninny. Tons of people give me grief about that, but I don't care (much). He sleeps in his own bed for most of the night, which I am still in shock over. My baby is growing up.

The Celtics are not the same as they were when you died. Rondo was injured (and out) for most of the season. Why?!?!?! :( Kentucky didn't make the tournament. It was a year of basketball suffering for me. The Finals were still pretty epic though. I cheered the losers, of course.

I love Josh more than I did when you left us. I had a pretty tough winter with frequent bouts of depression. I have been working through a ton of the ugly stuff about life that most people never really work through. I am thankful, and Josh has carried me through it all. You would be really proud to see the kind of husband he is to me.

Speaking of husbands, MINKEY'S GETTING MARRIED! I am not sure how much info I can give you publicly over my blog about the wedding, but I get to pick my own dress in the color I always imagined I'd wear in Mink's wedding. (Yep. I know her.) I also get to have a manicure and pedicure, and I plan to look really pretty. I so wish you were here to see me (and the bride, of course; she is wearing just the dress I imagined she'd wear. I'm excited!). Aaaaannd I get to plan quite a few parties (or help plan), but I've got sooooo many ideas! I wish you were here to take part in the shenanigans.

Calley has the biggest baby boy ever. He weighs about a half pound less than John (and is 15 months younger). He's also really sweet. He could probably take Mase & John out, but he probably won't because he's too precious. Mason still loves you. He knows that you miss him. I really hope that you don't miss us. I hope that you are as you should be: too enthralled with the beauty of our Savior to care about much else. The good in us is Him, all Him.

But about Mason. He is SO GROWN. Mama said he went to VBS all by himself without giving his Meme or his mama a second thought. Of course, I wasn't there. But I wish I could go to VBS. VBS is one of the number one things I miss up here in Michigan. I haven't seen too many of them, and they're all for like age four and older, so John couldn't go. Oh well, I'll take him one of these days. Also, Mason starts school in just a little over a month. I repeat, MASON STARTS SCHOOL IN A MONTH! I am really not sure how this is possible. Three days ago, you started The Last Song and got off early to meet your first great-grandson. He calls school "big class." He'll go to Mrs. Debby's school, so I am happy about that. I know she'll look out for him. I think he's gonna do great in school, but, let me tell you, you would have Mary-Lou-ed him big time if you'd have seen that boy playing t-ball. Stressful. But then we just laughed. He was only three. (I think if you were here, he would have at LEAST stayed on the field.)

To end on a very positive note about Mason, he is the world's sweetest kid. (John is a gangster.) I am not sure how this happened; Calley got the sweeties, and I got the gangster. ;) {Love you, Liz & Piggy Boy.}

I have been doing the 30 Day Shred with Josh everyday. I am doing pretty well with level one. We will move to level two on July 4. (Don't mess with me that day. I might be laid up in the bed.) You know me and Calley. We are fatty boos, but always trying not to be.

I went to my first Tigers game. COMERICA PARK IS AWESOME! We played the Red Sox. John was just getting over a sinus infection, so he didn't have the best time (and it was hot as Hades), but other than that, it was a perfect day! Also, the ball game cured him! He was back to his old antics as soon as we got home!

I want to tell you some serious stuff now. First, I miss you. There are STILL days when I can't believe that I can't tell you something. I thought I'd be done with those days. I always want to ask you what you think of Jason Aldean. He released this perfect song called Fly Over States. I wish you could have heard it.

I also really, really want to set aside space & time to honor your memory (especially today). I will never forget you, Pa. I will never forget how much you invested in me and I don't want to let others forget either. Today, if nothing else, I remember you. I asked Josh for his favorite memory of you. He said that he liked how you called him Josheeway. I liked that too. I could never ever pick a favorite memory of you, BUT ...

I loved being with you at lunch every Sunday after church, listening to you talk about people I had no clue who they were. Pretending to be listening. Secretly plotting to change the subject. I loved your voice.

I loved talking music with you. Since you died, I have been the biggest country music fan I know (ask my begrudging friends ... Haha!). Thanks for introducing me to the greatness of Johnny Cash, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette, RANDY TRAVIS, The Judds, Loretta Lynn, and the general creativity of country music.

I loved riding in your truck. The seats are comfier and more inviting than any other truck.

I loved that you hated to fish. Thank you, God - a like-hearted person. MOST BORING THING EVER!!!

I loved when you taught me stuff. Like how to plant watermelon, how to drive a tractor, rules of basketball, etc. I miss your expertise. (So does Mama. She just needed a toilet repair.) :)

I loved you. Cleaon Delmo Cannady. The whole package.

Happy 1 Year Homegoing Day. You are missed.

Love always,

Ashley Sheree