If there was a dream she had that he didn't make come true, I do not know about it. He has been a champion in many endeavors, but he is most accomplished at spoiling that baby girl to perfection. I have written before that he is no push-over; he isn't one for the sentimental. Nevertheless, that baby girl captured his heart and softened his all-male locker room gruff demeanor.
From the time she was a little girl, Taylor loved crawling up in her daddy's lap, snuggling into his big bear chest, and reigning justly as a princess in her kingdom. He teased her mercilessly, taught her how to win, to compete without conceiving of defeat, to chase excellence, and to be set apart. And that she was...
This man and I raised a beautiful creature together, without strife. Yet, we mourn so completely differently. After knowing him for twenty-five years, I rail against the loneliness that I can feel in his presence, and the loneliness that he feels that I cannot soothe.
He would make her hug him for a long time before she left for OU
stating, "I need big loving to last me a long time." Standing in the driveway, Joey would wrap Taylor up in his burly arms to the point that she almost disappeared. She would let him hold her, and then pop into her bug and wave goodbye. She loved being Daddy's girl.
He is our memory maker, our dream chaser, our funny man, our free entertainment, and the rock onto which I cling during this nightmare. He couldn't console me Monday night, but he held me all night long. He can't erase Wade"s anger, but he is the sport enthusiast with whom Wade wrangles each weekend. Watching him mourn....I have no words.
I can only tell you that even after we knew our girl was gone, Joey continued to drive to the hospital to say goodnight to his baby girl and kiss her forehead. Taylor wanted to donate her organs -so the organ donation association needed her on life support until each organ found a home. Joey drove back to the hospital for three nights - just for Tay, just for his girl, because family is every thing.
I have loved this man, the father of my children, with every thing that I am. His devotion to family stands; and while it will be my intent to hold him tonight, I bet I awake with his arms around me.
#golighttheworld