today he would be 68....

my late father-in-law, tommy's dad, would be 68 years old today.

but 8 1/2 years ago, God chose that it was time for him to come home.

i know that i've done a post about billy before, but i think it's good for me (and tommy) to reminisce, so here it is.

tommy and i started dating on may 13, 2000.

billy was diagnosed with cancer june 20, 2000.

God took him home on january 7, 2003.

so now as i sit here with billy's only grandchild, i'm thinking again. i'm thinking this time of all of the things that he would love about this little girl of mine who is growing up entirely too fast!

he would LOVE the stage that she is in right now! she is so full of life and so fun to be around - at least most of the time. she has her "whiny" days - and some days they almost get the most of us! but she has such a sweet heart - and a love for other people. it makes my heart smile and i know he would be so pleased.

he would love that she can spot eli manning in a picture - or most other "big name" players from ole miss. it would make his day!!!

he would love that she loves all things ole miss. and some nights cries to go to "her" ole miss! and she hates when football season is over. she is SUCH a barnette!

he would love that she enjoys sports. she knows that when football is over, it's time for basketball. when basketball is over, it's time for baseball. and when baseball is over, she just sighs because she has to wait for football to start back.

he would love that as a baby she had features that looked so much like him. especially the little cleft that she had in her chin when she was little. very much a billy barnette trait.

he would love the way she has her daddy wrapped around her finger - of course he'd be wrapped around the next finger!

he would love that she knows that Jesus died on the cross, died for "me and daddy and mommy and ........", and "wants to live in my heart". and he would have joined geno in tearing up when she was baptized.

he would love that she is so excited to be going to JA where her daddy went. billy would probably keep the campus store in business buying anything and everything JA for mary peyton!

he would love that she loves to be outside.

he would love that she loves jewelry (billy had SUCH good taste in jewelry and linda benefitted from that!).

most of all, he would love the fact that he finally had his girl. he would be spoiling her even more than what she is now.

i am so thankful that God brought tommy and myself together before billy became really sick. i'm glad that i got to know him and to spend time with him. we were able to have 2 good Christmas' together (the 3rd Christmas was just a few weeks before he passed away and he had been moved to hospice by this time).

we used to go to shapley's every year (sometimes the day after or before) for billy's birthday. those of you who know tommy and me know that that is our favorite place, so we looked forward to his birthday every year - even after he was gone....linda, tommy, and myself would go.

billy, we miss you still, so so much. i thank God daily that i was able to know you so that tommy and i can both share stories with mary peyton about you. thank you for everything that you were and for the sacrifices that you made for us. our lives are better because you were in it.

mary peyton is learning about you. she knows that you suffered from cancer and that when God saw that it was too much, He took you out of the pain. she releases balloons for you every chance she gets. her favorite is on her birthday - after her party, we have a little time with just us - she and tommy stand together and she lets them go. her little attention span gets the most of her and she quits watching after a few minutes. tommy watches them until he absolutely can't see anything left of the balloons.

most of all, she will know how much her pap-paw would love her and would be here for her no matter what.

much love always. until we see you again.

~~*revelation 21:4-5*~~