So, my dad passed away yesterday. He’s been sick for quite sometime, so we knew this was coming sooner than later, that in many ways I am very much at peace with his passing. He wasn’t himself these past couple of months, that I know he is in a much better place back to his full+ 
+self. I’m still processing it all, and I’m sure I’ll write more eventually. Today I wanted to share some letters. My dad was a wonderful writer, and wrote many letters over the years. These are a few of my favorite. This first one is a letter he wrote to one of my principals.+
She was doing “Good News Letters” for teachers, sending them to family members. My dad wrote this letter back to her. She had it hung up on her wall and let me take a picture of it.+
This next letter is a letter he wrote to my oldest daughter. In re-reading all of these letters I am reminded of the wisdom he shared with all of us.+
+this next letter is one he wrote to me the summer after graduating from college. This is only part of the letter. I had decided to stay in Minnesota instead of moving back to NJ. I was nannying on Lake Minnetonka, living with the family. I was applying to tons of districts+
+without any getting any interviews or job offers, I knew I wanted to stay in Minnesota. Receiving this letter in the middle of July 1991 helped encourage me to keep pushing for my dream. Took 2 years after this to get my first full time teaching position, but it was worth it.+
+This last letter is a letter my dad received from the church he attended and helped out a lot. My mom shared this with me recently. I knew my dad helped the church, I had no clue just how many ways he helped.+
+ Something that I have been thinking about a lot is how pretty much every time I said good-bye to my dad or was on the phone with him, he would tell me that I was special. He would say something like, “You are special, Kory, you always have been, you always are. You are a+
+special person.” Truth is I have no idea whether or not he said things like that to my siblings, but I chose to believe him. And, I think the way I am going to give honor to him is by making a very conscious effort to make others feel as special as he made me feel.+
+Because feeling special is pretty powerful. I know I will miss my dad, but I am forever grateful for the wonderful memories I have of him, and forever grateful that he shared his gifts with others.❤️
