Happy Father's Day!

It has been kind of a weird Father's Day this year since Nic isn't here. My Dad passed away 5 yrs ago next month. I would like to take a minute to talk about my own Dad. My Dad was the kind of guy who would bend over backwards for family and I think he deserves to be remembered on Father's Day. My Dad passed away July 14th, 2004 from a sudden heart attack just a little over 2 wks. before my 17th birthday. It's funny that I can talk about it now without the pain. On July 9th I rolled out of bed at about 10:00 and was eating some cereal at the kitchen table when the phone rang. My Dad worked with his brother Walter doing siding on houses. My Uncle Walter asked for my Mom and I knew in that second something was wrong. I went to the front porch where my Mom was waving my Aunt Shar off and told her to come to the phone where she was then told that my Dad had had a serious heart attack and was being life flighted to LDS Hospital in SLC. (he was in Wyoming at the time) I remember exactly what I was wearing, exactly what I felt, exactly how my Mom reacted. I remember everything about that morning. The next few days were a blur. Basically my Dad was in need of a bypass but when he had the heart attack it put him into a coma. It wouldn't make sense to do the bypass unless he came out of the coma...he never came out. His chances of living a good quality of life decreased each day he was in the coma. So on July 14th, 5 days later all nine of us kids and spouses, my Mom, and my Dad's siblings gathered around and watched as they took him off of life support. That moment was one of the MOST spiritual moments of my life as I watched my sweet Father's body give up. He was free from the stress of the world and I know he is happier. I still feel him with me every once in a while and when I do it's such a peaceful reassurance of the plan of salvation. My Dad loves the gospel and family more than anything. He never failed to express love for me. He was the kind of grandpa that every grandpa should be. There are so many memories of the incredible things he did as a Father that I couldn't possibly begin to start. It's weird because you never say I love you to someone after they pass away, but I want to say it to my Dad. I love you Dad, thanks for being a good Father. So today I am thinking of him and the amazing Father he was and is. David Leavitt Ewell.