hello dave, its now christmas 2012 and you arent here and it sure isnt the same without you. i miss you so very much and i miss talking to you about what to do for christmas this year and what to get everybody. i have to tell you that it was slim pickins this year for christmas. i sure hope everybody understands. i sit here every night and think about you and wish you were here. i cry, and i cry. alot. im sure you see that though. it really just doesnt feel like christmas this year. i just want to wish you a very merry christmas dave and hope you are seeing your family there for christmas, your mom and dad and brothers and sisters all together again this holiday. just know that i am here doing the best i can and not one day goes by that i dont think about you or miss you so much. i love you dave. always will. you will forever be in my heart and in my life. i know this really isnt a story about your life but its what i wanted to say to you. people say the first christmas without someone is hard and they are so right. everyday i wish you were here. but always know that you are so very missed and loved. i love you dave and miss you so very much. 
  Merry Christmas Dave!!!!! 

dave was so proud the day that jude was born. he was excited and glad to be a grandpa. he loves that little boy. at first i think he scared jude cuz when he walked in the room poor little jude would scream, but i think that was because dave wanted to be near him he would go straight up to jude and start giving him kisses and it frightened him. but as time went by and jude got a little older he warmed up to him. he loved his grandpa. although dave will miss jude growing up he will be watching down on him. most people dread becoming grandparents, but dave was excited, he loved being a grandpa. we miss you dave so very much. in spirit you will see how jude grows up. and jude grandpa loves you so very much and very glad i got to spend what time i did with you.

I remember when I was about 4 years old, Dad had this old AMC Hornet that he took all of the doors off of, and he'd seatbelt us 3 kids in and go out into the pasture and he would do cookies and drive like a mad man. To us kids it was the funnest thing ever!! But of course it scared mom to death.
  One other time on Christmas Eve he took me and Les down to the River Park in Wisner in the Durango and did cookies on a huge sheet of ice, oh man it was so scary but so exhilirating! I miss you so much Dad, and all the crazy things we did! 
 
  Love,
 Your Baby Girl 

he sat and told me about his parents and his brothers, sisters one day. how they passed and things they did when they were younger. some interesting and some crazy. he told me about his cars and how he liked to race them for beer and such. the stories of how they all passed were sad to hear but i figure it helped him remember how they were when they were all together. we do have alot of memories together, some good, some not so great, but i wouldnt change any of the memories i have with him.