A TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER-TRAVIS SPENCER JOHNSON
"A life not rememberd, is a life forgotten."
Four years ago life changed dramatically. The Johnsons became mortal. My faith in God was challenged, my heart ached, my soul cried...I lost my daddy. Not only was he my daddy but he was my best friend--a constant chearleader of my life, a coach to challenge me to bigger things, a hug to wrap me up when I was sad. He taught me what it meant to have integrity, to work hard and that NOTHING was ever impossible with God. I loved working alongside him and learning so much about business and computers and life--I truly would not be as capable as I am had he not taught me all he had. I loved watching him love my children--he was a beautiful Poppa to them and stepped in when our family fell apart to love them like a father. I loved watching him love my mom--their love story was like no other and I truly know God moved heaven and earth to bring them together. They modeled for me what unconditional love means. I loved how he soaked up my mom's love for him--truly beautiful. He taught me to be a survivor--a lesson I would test many times in my life thus far. Never give up, never walk away for one person, and JUST DO IT! I loved how he loved God's creations--horses, the sea, his land. My father was truly an example of God the father here on earth.
Although time has put a dull ache on the pain of him not physically being here, I miss him greatly. Every day I stuff the sadness that comes from wanting to pick up the phone and call him to go to lunch or share an accomplishment or hear his laugh. But every day that passes I know is one day closer to seeing you again, dad. I am so thankful to God for giving me such an amazing father and friend and I am so thankful to God for the gift of memories. I can close my eyes and see his smile, or his Chesier cat laugh, hear his encouraging voice. I see him in Liz and my kids--in little faces they make, ways they move, and their smiles---in my sister's faces, in lessons he taught Stephen and in my mom's love for him. And I see him in me.
I only wish I had just one more day with you dad, but perhaps I would always want "just one more day." So until then I carry you in my heart and hope to live a life that you would be proud of.
I will always love you, daddy!
"A life not rememberd, is a life forgotten."
Four years ago life changed dramatically. The Johnsons became mortal. My faith in God was challenged, my heart ached, my soul cried...I lost my daddy. Not only was he my daddy but he was my best friend--a constant chearleader of my life, a coach to challenge me to bigger things, a hug to wrap me up when I was sad. He taught me what it meant to have integrity, to work hard and that NOTHING was ever impossible with God. I loved working alongside him and learning so much about business and computers and life--I truly would not be as capable as I am had he not taught me all he had. I loved watching him love my children--he was a beautiful Poppa to them and stepped in when our family fell apart to love them like a father. I loved watching him love my mom--their love story was like no other and I truly know God moved heaven and earth to bring them together. They modeled for me what unconditional love means. I loved how he soaked up my mom's love for him--truly beautiful. He taught me to be a survivor--a lesson I would test many times in my life thus far. Never give up, never walk away for one person, and JUST DO IT! I loved how he loved God's creations--horses, the sea, his land. My father was truly an example of God the father here on earth.
Although time has put a dull ache on the pain of him not physically being here, I miss him greatly. Every day I stuff the sadness that comes from wanting to pick up the phone and call him to go to lunch or share an accomplishment or hear his laugh. But every day that passes I know is one day closer to seeing you again, dad. I am so thankful to God for giving me such an amazing father and friend and I am so thankful to God for the gift of memories. I can close my eyes and see his smile, or his Chesier cat laugh, hear his encouraging voice. I see him in Liz and my kids--in little faces they make, ways they move, and their smiles---in my sister's faces, in lessons he taught Stephen and in my mom's love for him. And I see him in me.
I only wish I had just one more day with you dad, but perhaps I would always want "just one more day." So until then I carry you in my heart and hope to live a life that you would be proud of.
I will always love you, daddy!
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