April 05th, 2019

​1am sharp I woke up and looked at the clock. Unusual for me (believe it or not). Now y’all know I wake up crazy early nearly every day, but it’s almost guaranteed to be at least 2am or after, & usually closer to 4 or 5. Then it hit me. Today is April 5th, the day my world changed forever & the day that Daddy died, & 1am was the EXACT hour that that heartbreaking phone call came.
 
I so vividly remember Howard answering the phone, and saying, “Molly, your daddy just died.” Absolute disbelief.
 
The unbelievable shock and gut-wrenching heartache was nightmarish. We threw on clothes & raced straight to Edith and Daddy’s house to see him one more time before Wells got there. He was laid back in his recliner & looked as if he had just drifted off to sleep watching a ballgame, like he did so often. (and had that night, for which we’re forever thankful)
 
But on top of the terrible grief was the fact that it was Easter morning, a day that epitomizes hope and joy. We went back home, numb with shock, and decided to do what we’d always done every single morning of my life. We got dressed & went to our sunrise service. Somehow, I felt like I just HAD to be there. My heart was absolutely broken & I was numb with grief… & yet I KNEW without certainty where Daddy was - in the arms of Jesus & reunited with his parents, & being at church among people I love gave me comfort.
 
Tears flow down my cheek this morning as I type this, but I’m also so thankful, & look forward to the day when I’m reunited with Daddy and hear his voice saying, “Hey, sugar” one more time.