My brother was in town this weekend and I met him, his friend Breanna, my sister and her family for lunch today. When my dad would come into town, it was our tradition to meet for lunch after church on Sunday. In fact, the last time we all met for lunch when Daddy was in town, he had his stroke shortly after.

It’s sad to think of that last family lunch with him. And I headed to lunch today with a small pain in my heart knowing that he wouldn’t be there. But I’m grateful for continuing our tradition. I feel like he was there watching over his children and grandchildren with a big smile on his face as we work toward moving on.

Pop is Donovon’s father.  He asked me to call him Pop the first time Donovon introduced me to him.  I instantly felt like one of his daughters.

There is so much I admire about this man, it’s hard to know where to begin.  Pop served in the Vietnam War as a helicopter door gunner.  While there, he literally saved a soldier’s life by ripping out the passenger seat of the helicopter already full of wounded soldier’s to make room for one more.  This soldier had been shot nine times.  If Pop had not made room and pulled him in, the man would have surely died.  He saved his life and that soldier is still alive today.

As a father and grandfather, Pop is full of love, kindness, and devotion.  His heart is so big, his capacity for loving his ever-expanding family, whether of blood or not, is infinite.  I recall the morning that I arrived in Houston after Daddy took a turn for the absolute worst.  Pop was there and I fell into his arms in utter despair, and he held me up.  I felt that he felt my pain and wanted desperately to take it from me.

Pop is a hero in every sense of the word.  He is a man of honor and of deep love of God, family, and country.  I’m honored to be his daughter-in-law and am forever grateful that he’s My Pop.

Pop, I love you very much.