I feel compelled to share the story of my dads last few months and his death experience.
Traci(my sister) and Lee(my brother) are important in this story and play a vital role in the love circle of our dad. This circle contains the following people:
Myself,(Laura), Lee, Traci, Anthony, Dustin and Andrea. The events that took place are astounding to us and should be shared with anyone who loved or cared for our dad... Heck, anyone who has lost someone they love.

*Miracle #1*
During the summer of 2003, I went through chemotherapy here in Oklahoma City, but because I could not work for some of that time, I was on short-term disability and was able to spend 6 weeks of my treatment out in Vegas along with my son. We held a small surprise party for our dad, which he really enjoyed. I loved the time with him. I think we all knew he was not well, and needed to cherish every minute we had with him. I was always concerned about him driving alone because if his heart failed while he was driving, who would be there for him. He asked if he could take the boys from Vegas to Pahrump alone and spend time with them. I was concerned but agreed to let him drive them. He really loved that time and bragged on the manners of his grandsons. He loves them so much!! I recovered from my illness before my dad passed into the spirit world.


*Miracle #2*
In the summer of 2003 my brother was offered a job working for our aunt Robin in Las Vegas and being a part of their company on an ownership level. My brother wanted to pursue this opportunity and moved from California to Vegas. This afforded my brother the ability to also spend more time with our dad. After several months of working for Robin, things went sour and my brother moved in with my dad in Pahrump. This brought Traci and me some comfort knowing that dad was not alone and had some help if he needed it.



*Miracle #3*
In September of 2003, I gained custody of my daughter (Andrea). The last several years she has lived with her father and he refused to let her go with me to visit my dad. My dad would make trips to Oklahoma and would see her then. My dad planned on coming out to visit us for Thanksgiving 2003,so he could see Andrea too, but since his health was not good, he could not make the trip. My kids and myself took the trip out to see him instead for Thanksgiving 2003. What a great time we had with him. He was so happy to see all of us including Andrea who was/is his first grandchild.



*Miracle #4*
My sisters’ boyfriend had asked my dad for Traci’s' hand in marriage a few days prior to Thanksgiving and he called me in Oklahoma to tell me about it. He was so happy about it. On Thanksgiving Day, my sister called dad to tell him that Sam had asked her to marry him. My dad had tears in his eyes that day. (What a priceless moment) The day after Thanksgiving we drove to Simi Valley, CA to see Traci, Sam and Anthony (my sisters son). We drove by our old house where we all lived many years ago. My dad struggled to breathe so much and had a very hard time walking any length at all. My sister cooked us all dinner while we were there and I know my dad really enjoyed that. I drove most of the trip back to Pahrump, which was a first for me. It felt good to drive him and let him rest. When the day came to leave Pahrump and come back to Oklahoma, my dad drove us to the airport and mentioned that he was so proud of me for everything I had done with my life lately. (What a great feeling that was for me) My dad knew he didn't have long.

~A Letter from Traci to Dad~

*Miracle #5*sign*
At the airport, he dropped us off at curbside and we all hugged him. As I approached the door to go inside the airport, I took a moment to look back at him one more time. I felt the need to do that. When I looked back at him, he was looking at us. We both turned and went on. The last thing I said to my dad in person was I love him and goodbye.

*Miracle #6*Sign*
Christmas came and my dad sent the kids gifts and sent me a card saying that he loved me and thanked me for always being there for him. When I read that, I was scared, but appreciated the words.

*Miracle #7*
In late January I called my dad and we spoke about me moving out there to be with him, he said I had nothing in Oklahoma for me and I need to come back out to California. I told him I just wanted to be near him and he said he would "ask the ole man" if it was an option. This would be the last conversation I would have with my dad. I asked my dad on the phone to consider the idea of heaven and he said okay he would think about it. He later told Traci and Lee that he didn't believe so much in the Christian way but did believe that there was/is a force out there greater than we are.

February 1st 2004-I called my phone company and asked them to put long distance on my phone so I could call my dad... Today was Super bowl day and I wanted to reach him to hear his thoughts on Super bowl. They said it would take 24 hours to get that activated, so I didn't get to talk to him again.

February 2nd-A Monday was a calm day in Oklahoma, I remember commenting to my boss that it was such an easy day as far as work went. I drove home after work and watched Fear Factor and Las Vegas. I got into bed and was relaxing about 11pm. The phone rang, I heard a crying voice and thought it was my daughter and asked what was wrong... the voice said. "Dad passed away today,” I remember hearing the words but not believing them so I said "What?" "Dad passed away today". I could not believe it, and went into utter shock, hands shaking, knees week, I whaled with a forceful cry and hunger to reverse time so I could bring him back. "No" I said, "No" "Oh dear God NO"! I immediately felt the need to just be there and called my friend Kevin who was not reachable, so I called Shannon and told her I needed help, "Please help me" I said. She took care of my flight arrangements with Kevin once she reached him. I could not sleep that night, too much shock filled my soul along with a huge desire to bring my dad back. (As if I could) I was packing our suitcases and woke up my son. He asked me what was wrong, I said Grandpa passed away and went to Heaven today. He said "come here" in his tired eyes and compassionate way he held me and caressed my hair and back. Then he cried too. I called a friend to ask him for a ride to the airport and he said yes. I knew I could not drive with an hour sleep and tears streaming from my eyes.

*Miracle #8*
In the airport that morning, I was getting breakfast for my son when I heard a man sneeze... I turned to look and low and behold, it was my pastor. He was on his way to the restroom and I did not want to bother him until he came back out. On his way back out I stopped him and asked him to pray for my family and me. He held Dustin and I and prayed for us right there in the airport then made a call to the church and put our family on the prayer chain. His wife lost her dad recently too and he knew what I was going through. My pastor ended up being on my flight that day.

I arrived in the airport in Las Vegas and my sister and brother were there to greet me, I remember thinking it was so incomplete to see them there without dad. My brother handed me my dads business card holder and handed Dustin my dads’ knife, both items he had on him when he passed over. My brother held me and I cried more, then I hugged my sister and he hugged her too. We gathered the luggage and we were all still in the stunned zone.

*Miracle #9*
Going back in time a bit... My dad is having dinner the night of the super bowl and eating Fillet minion (he loved a good steak) His last supper would be his favorite food.

*Miracle #10*
The next day when my dad went to work, he spent his day as a normal day, helping my brother with his business some and going about his daily routine. He went to lunch as he did every day and after lunch my dad said he wasn't feeling well and went to use the restroom on his way, he collapsed in the restroom doorway. His heart stopped beating. The office personal would perform CPR and call 911 then call my brother who was there in minutes. My brother (Lee) held my dads hand while they worked on him and begged him to come back, but dad did not wake up. After an hour and a half of working on my dad they pronounced him dead and covered him with a sheet.

My brother then asked my uncle’s wife to NOT call Traci, that he would take care of it. He then got into his car and drove five hours to Simi Valley. At the door of Traci’s’ apt he looked into the window and felt such sadness at having to break the news of our loss to them. He knocked on her door a few times before they finally answered and in my brother’s hands, he held my dads coat. Traci knew instantly when she saw that coat that her dad was gone and fell to her knees. In that coat was a fortune cookie. (This importance of this comes later) TO BE CONTINUED...