Dear Pa,

Let me first start off by saying thank you for watching over me every day and letting me live my dream. Not a day goes by where I don't wish that I could just pick up the phone and tell you what I'm doing, the classes I'm taking and just everything that's happening. It breaks my heart knowing you missed so many big life events we talked about you being here for.

I remember the conversation we had a few weeks before you passed, you had asked me where I wanted to go to college and what I wanted to study. While what I wanted to study has changed since then, I am proud to say the college we had talked about was indeed the one I did get into and I'm currently attending. It was all thanks to the college essay I sent about you and how much of a hero you were and still are to me. You taught me to always go for my dreams, and let me tell you, I'm currently living it.

I remember sitting at graduation, looking at our crazy family holding up signs with my name on it and cheering for me as I got my diploma. I couldn't help but feel a little empty looking up and seeing everyone's face in the crowd but yours. Though I knew you were there over me watching, I still always pictured your face in the crowd.

You were always my biggest fan, being the first grandchild even when I made a bad decision, I could still see how proud you were of me. Not to mention you made my vocabulary better by your impromptu spelling bee's which consisted of the words "Constantinople" and "Mesopotamia". You stopped making me spell Mississippi when I learned the song of how to spell it in school.

Even today someone will tell a new story about you and I'll laugh because they just sound like something you would do or say. The best is telling stories about you to the youngest grandchild, which also happens to be my brother. Though he gets sad and tells us not to talk about you, we know how important it is to tell him these stories to remember you like we are able to.

I can't believe it's been almost three years already. It's crazy to be to think how fast time flies by and how much has happened since you left us. Trust me when I say it's not just me who misses you every single day-- we all do. The life lessons you taught me, the good morals, and little things in between will stick with me forever. Never forget how much we love you down here because we don't ever forget how much you love us. I'll conclude with my favorite quote that you've given to me...something I try to follow every day:

"Don't sweat the small things."

I won't.

I love you always and keep watching over me and our family.

Haileigh