My dear father-in-law, my husband’s dad, passed away last night after a long struggle with cancer. He was a man of deep love and God-belief. He was an amazing father. When I got to know him, I knew that his son—who would become my husband—would be one as well (and he is). He made me feel like one of his daughters. He loved jokes and he loved long conversations. He heard what you said; he listened. He liked Westerns; I secretly think he was a cowboy at heart. He liked gospel music. He liked to fix things. He liked to smile. His face broke into honest joy when our kids—when any of his grandchildren—came into the room. And he was burdened by a longing for a safe world for them. He loved Jesus and he loved to talk about him. He loved to run. He loved to laugh. He loved life. He loved his family—his amazing wife, his beautiful daughters, his incredible son. He loved God. I wish you could have known him. I will miss him. Until I see you again, Pop: onward and upward, further up and further in…