"Cause every little thing gonna be all right"

Dear Dad,

First of all, I would like to say what a privilege it is to call you Dad. Thank you for always treating me like your very own. I have always felt a Fathers love from you. It just goes to show that a Fathers love isn’t limited to just those born to you. Thank you for your wonderful example of not only an outstanding human being, but of a wonderful husband and father to all your kids. Everyone who has gotten the chance to see you as the husband and father you are, know how lucky I truly am. That the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. Your example will be passed down from generation to generation, just as it was passed on to you. I feel very blessed to have the knowledge that I do. I know that while we won’t see you physically, we will feel you often throughout our lives. Every holiday, especially Christmas, our birthdays, Lake Powell trips, waiting up all night to save our spots at the 24th of July parade, and if BYU ever beats Utah, we know you will be there. We know we will feel you every time we attend the temple, for you loved attending the temple. We know you will be there at graduations, and that we will feel you at Maddie, Parker, and Dakotas’ weddings. And I know with all of my heart, that every time one of your grandchildren is sent to our family, that they will be sent down with all of your love and sweet kisses. It will be at these moments in our life that we know our Dad is closer to us than ever before. I’m thankful for all the sweet memories I have. The sweetest being the night before your accident. Kristopher and I were dropping Maddie off at your house. Even though it was getting late you asked us to come in and visit for a little bit. You hadn’t really gotten to see Colin walk yet, so after visiting for a while, you and Kristopher got on the floor and Colin would walk back and forth between you two. The expression on your face was priceless, and only got better every time he walked back to you. In my opinion your expression was pure Joy. One that you would expect from seeing him walk across the stage to get his high school diploma, returning from an honorable mission, or kneeling at the alter with his sweetheart being sealed for time and all eternity. I feel so lucky to have witnessed that joy. Because it will be during those times in Colin’s life, where that sweet memory will come back to me, and I will know without a shadow of a doubt that you will be next to us with that same amount of joy. My heart is touched every time I think of you in Heaven, playing with each and everyone of your Grandbabies. Telling them all about the adventures they are about to have. Each one of them will get to know and love their Grandpa Dave there, far more than we can imagine. Thank you for this wonderful family I get to be apart of. That our family will be together forever. I love you so much and know that I will forever be a better person, because of your love and example. It will feel like a lifetime for us until our family is reunited all together again, but for you it will only be a glimpse. So with that knowledge I will not say goodbye today, but with peace in my heart, I will say see you soon, Dad.

I love you,

Libby


At my father-in-laws funeral, we were each asked to write a letter to Dad. Kristopher read them all in a sweet tribute to our Dad. Dave's funeral was such a beautiful tribute to what a truly remarkable man he was. He gave a 100% percent in all that he did. I know personally that he did in his role as father-in-law. He really treated me as one of his own. He did one of the greatest things someone could ever do for me, and that was love my son as much as he did. One thing I knew before I was even pregnant was how great of a grandpa he would be, but I couldn't even dream up a more perfect Grandpa. I told him many times that I thought that was his life's calling. Like I said in the letter I wrote to him, I know he is loving on every one of his grandbabies in Heaven. Someone teased us saying it will probably be a long time before another one gets sent to us because he is going to keep them to himself for awhile. That's perfectly ok with me because I can't think of a better place for them to be, then in the arms of my wonderful father-in-law. This has been such a difficult time for us. Kristopher and I were just talking on our way home tonight how lucky we are that we have gotten so many wonderful memories this last year. That if we were told a year ago that we only would have one more year with him, nothing would have changed. We spent as much time with my in laws as we possibly could. Most of our Friday nights were spent on a double date with Michelle and Dave. We have gotten to go on many out of the normal trips with him this year. Even on Halloween we had planned to go to our own ward for trunk or treating, which was the same night as my in law's. We figured we needed to participate in our own ward. Last minute we ended up wanting to go with them and surprised them. Tonight we talked about all the times we were suppose to do other things but always had such a strong desire to be with Kristopher's family. We have so many sweet memories that otherwise we wouldn't have. I am so blessed with an amazing Mother-in-law. She has been the rock in our family. I gain strength from her daily. When I was a little girl I used to pray all the time for younger siblings. Being the youngest in my family, I obviously didn't get my prayers answered, until I married into the Brown family. I have two incredible younger brothers and the greatest little sister anyone could ask for. The biggest blessing in my life is my sweet husband. My heart aches so much for him. He not only lost his Dad, but one of his very best friends. He is such a support for me, as well as for his mom and siblings. Kristopher is the greatest husband and father, and I know that's because of the wonderful example of both he has had in his life. I really am blessed. Sometimes it's hard to feel that way, because of how bad it hurts right now. But I am truly thankful for all my many blessings.