By Whitney....
It has taken me weeks to write this post, mainly because I am still so overwhelmed by the support, love and kindness I received during my visit to the C.A.A.I.R. Foundation. The C.A.A.I.R. Foundation is an incredible rehabilitation facility located in a country setting in Jay, Oklahoma. My Daddy's best friend, Mr. Jimmie is the Director. Daddy and Jimmie were friends for many years, meeting during the time they were both at the H.O.W. Foundation. It was a friendship that lasted until the day my Daddy died, and now, Mr. Jimmie has reached out to me and my sister and is truly standing in the gap for our Dad. Words cannot express what his friendship means to me. Every time I receive a letter from him, I stand at the mailbox to read it because I am so excited to hear from him. He loved my Daddy just as much as if he were his brother and the stories he tells me truly do help heal my heart.
I am so proud of Jimmie. Not only has he been sober for over 15 years, he is doing a marvelous work with the men at the C.A.A.I.R. foundation. He is what my Daddy would have been, if only he had stayed sober. There is something about him that immediately puts one at ease and I am delighted to call Jimmie and his dear wife, Lori my "family".
A few weeks ago I went speak to the men at the Foundation. Mr. Jimmie gave me the opportunity that I had prayed for since starting this website. He made my dream come true by allowing me to reach out to the men and tell my Daddy's story. I was terrified, excited, nervous and emotional, and I cried throughout my entire speech. The men there were so incredibly kind to me. They said my message was wonderful and they were moved by our story. Several men told me that they needed to hear what I had to say and they were going to try even harder to overcome their addictions so that they could be a good father to their kids in a way that Daddy never could. I was hugged and thanked and made to feel like a rock star, even though I was a crying mess. I am very proud of every man who is at the Foundation because they are on the road to a wondeful future. And I know with Mr. Jimmie's help, they will succeed.
Our goal of giving our Daddy an amazing legacy is off to a fantastic start. I hope that more opportunities to share Daddy's story will become available. I am so grateful to Jimmie, Lori, the staff, and the men at the C.A.A.I.R. Foundation for allowing me to tell them about my Daddy. It was an expreience I will treasure forever.
It has taken me weeks to write this post, mainly because I am still so overwhelmed by the support, love and kindness I received during my visit to the C.A.A.I.R. Foundation. The C.A.A.I.R. Foundation is an incredible rehabilitation facility located in a country setting in Jay, Oklahoma. My Daddy's best friend, Mr. Jimmie is the Director. Daddy and Jimmie were friends for many years, meeting during the time they were both at the H.O.W. Foundation. It was a friendship that lasted until the day my Daddy died, and now, Mr. Jimmie has reached out to me and my sister and is truly standing in the gap for our Dad. Words cannot express what his friendship means to me. Every time I receive a letter from him, I stand at the mailbox to read it because I am so excited to hear from him. He loved my Daddy just as much as if he were his brother and the stories he tells me truly do help heal my heart.
I am so proud of Jimmie. Not only has he been sober for over 15 years, he is doing a marvelous work with the men at the C.A.A.I.R. foundation. He is what my Daddy would have been, if only he had stayed sober. There is something about him that immediately puts one at ease and I am delighted to call Jimmie and his dear wife, Lori my "family".
A few weeks ago I went speak to the men at the Foundation. Mr. Jimmie gave me the opportunity that I had prayed for since starting this website. He made my dream come true by allowing me to reach out to the men and tell my Daddy's story. I was terrified, excited, nervous and emotional, and I cried throughout my entire speech. The men there were so incredibly kind to me. They said my message was wonderful and they were moved by our story. Several men told me that they needed to hear what I had to say and they were going to try even harder to overcome their addictions so that they could be a good father to their kids in a way that Daddy never could. I was hugged and thanked and made to feel like a rock star, even though I was a crying mess. I am very proud of every man who is at the Foundation because they are on the road to a wondeful future. And I know with Mr. Jimmie's help, they will succeed.
Our goal of giving our Daddy an amazing legacy is off to a fantastic start. I hope that more opportunities to share Daddy's story will become available. I am so grateful to Jimmie, Lori, the staff, and the men at the C.A.A.I.R. Foundation for allowing me to tell them about my Daddy. It was an expreience I will treasure forever.