Michael Emmett Traynor

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel emotional and a bit sensitive and you aren't sure why?  Today was one of those days.  After a busy weekend and knowing there is a messy home to clean, school to start and children to take care of and meals to prepare, you get so busy trying to get things done, you forget what today is. February 20, 2004 was a difficult day.  Michael Emmett Traynor was taken from this world. 

A few weeks after this day we got the news that the day before his death, he accepted the gift of Jesus and we were given the hope that we will see him again.  Praise the Lord.  God is so good. 

It has been 8 years since that day.  We have had so much go on in our lives since this day.  The best thing that came from this event in our lives, We are serving the Lord!  We have seen many people come to know the saving grace that Mike took hold of the day before his death.  Amazing!

I want to tell you about this man.  I am so blessed that I got to know Mike.  He is one of those people that you know is special.  He had this way of making me feel special and wonderful.  He was kind and loving and accepting.  He always made me feel important and would listen to my opinions and never made me feel stupid or crazy for having them.  

A few weeks before Mike went to Heaven, we got to have a moment to ourselves.  There were other people in the room, but for that moment, it was just us two.  I was trying to stay strong and keep a smile on my face.  He called me over to him and he gave me the warmest most loving hug.  As he held on to me and let me cry he whispered to me, "It's going to be alright Sunshine."  (He would always call me princess or sunshine).  At that moment I felt a love that only a father can give a daughter.  
The photo above is one that hangs in my house.  I love looking at it.  It is so much him and his real smile. His eyes would light up when he smiled. 
Sometimes I think of what it would be like to have him here with us.  How he would love on the boys and play with them. How he would come over and just enjoy them. To talk to him about politics and everything going on these days. HAHA!  It brings a smile to my face thinking of all this.  And I cannot wait to be with him and others we love again. :)