To honor their father’s last wish, two young girls visit his grave on his birthday to show him their cute new dresses. Near the headstone, they spot two beautifully wrapped boxes with their names on them, not knowing what surprises are inside.
Six-year-old Isla and her sister, Madison, who is eight, missed their dad, Brian, deeply. Since he had passed away, their lives felt different. They no longer sneaked cookies and ice cream from the kitchen at night, teamed up to tease their mom, or went shopping like they used to. Without Daddy Brian, those little adventures just weren’t the same.
“You’re spoiling those girls, Brian!” his wife, Linda, would often say with a laugh. “Why do you always gang up against me? I know you’re sneaking them treats from the pantry!”
“Well, I’ll spoil them for the rest of my life!” Brian would say, smiling widely. “They will always come first for me as long as I live! I’m sorry, honey, but you’ve got competition! And you know, I love all my girls—including you,” he’d say, hugging her.
Brian was that kind of person, always balancing everything with love. He was the perfect family man. But after he passed, everything changed. Isla and Madison grew quiet, and Linda, his wife, struggled to cope with his loss.
Linda’s last memories of Brian were heartbreaking. She watched him lose a battle to stage four cancer, feeling helpless. Doctors tried their best, but the illness took him away. Brian’s health kept getting worse, and one morning, he didn’t wake up. Isla and Madison had slept beside him in the hospital the night before, as Brian had asked. He probably sensed it was his last night with them.
At 4 a.m. the next day, Linda called the doctors, worried. They gently informed her, “Time of death: 4 a.m. Tuesday…” Linda was devastated, staring as they covered Brian’s face with a white hospital sheet.
After his death, Linda couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye. Her daughters, though, were braver—they attended his funeral. Linda, however, couldn’t bear to watch him being buried.
One of Brian’s last wishes was for his girls to visit him on his birthday, wearing their best outfits. “I want my little girls to look their prettiest. You must promise to visit me,” he had said. So, the day before his birthday, the girls asked Linda to take them shopping.
“Mommy,” Isla said, “Daddy loved my red dress. He got me one for my birthday. I want a red dress.”
“You can pick for me, Mom,” Madison added. “I want it to be Dad’s favorite color.”
Linda hesitated, still in grief. “I—I don’t think I can, girls,” she said, trying to avoid the topic.
“But we need to visit Daddy!” Isla insisted. “He wanted us to wear something pretty on his birthday.”
Linda’s heart softened, realizing she’d forgotten his birthday. “What did he ask you?” she asked, teary-eyed.
“Daddy wanted to see us in pretty dresses on his birthday,” Isla replied. “We have to go shopping, Mommy!”
Linda hadn’t known this was Brian’s last wish. Madison explained, “The night before he died, he held our hands and asked. Please, Mom? Isla misses Daddy a lot.”
Madison was wise for her age, sensing how important this was. Finally, she convinced Linda to go shopping.
“Alright,” Linda said. “Let’s get you both the prettiest outfits so Daddy knows what he’s missing!” She burst into tears, and her daughters hugged her.
“Dad wouldn’t want you to be sad, Mom,” Madison whispered.
The next day, on Brian’s birthday, the girls dressed up and walked hand-in-hand to his grave, with Linda following behind.
When they reached his grave, they spotted two wrapped boxes with their names on them. A small note on top said they were from Brian.
“Mommy!” Isla called out. “Look, Daddy left us gifts! He’s so silly—he doesn’t know we should give him gifts on his birthday!”
Madison exchanged a glance with Linda, understanding that the gifts couldn’t really be from Brian.
” Well, maybe he missed his daughters,” Linda smiled. “Go ahead and open them.”
The girls unwrapped the boxes, and Linda tried to hide her tears. Isla beamed with joy, while Madison cried for the first time since Brian’s death.
Inside each box was a lovely pair of pink Mary Janes and a letter from Brian.
“Shoes!” Isla exclaimed. “My favorite color!”
The letter read:
“My prettiest girls,
The angels here say you’re the most beautiful girls ever. I wanted to make you even prettier, so I picked these shoes. I hope you like them.
Remember, I’m not around you, but I’m always in your heart. I know you’re not sneaking cookies anymore. Don’t tell Mommy, but I saw her filling the pantry with cookies again! Next time, I want to hear stories about how you managed to sneak some. Just because Daddy isn’t there doesn’t mean you have to be perfectly good all the time.
Thank you for visiting me, and happy birthday to my beautiful girls. Daddy loves you and misses you.
With love,
Brian.”
“That’s too much to read!” Isla said. “Madison, what did Daddy say?”
Madison hugged her tightly. “He said he’s happy and wants us to be happy, too. He misses us. Thank you for this, Mom,” she added, knowing Linda was behind the gifts.
Linda smiled, grateful for her girls, who helped her step out of her grief and gave her the strength to honor Brian’s memory.
If You Have These Cabinets Above Your Fridge, Here’s the Surprising Reason Why
A neat, tidy home where everything has its place feels so much better to live in. If you’re like me, focusing on things is hard when there’s clutter, or when things just don’t seem to belong where they are.
But it wasn’t always this way for me. When I was younger, I didn’t care much about keeping things organized around the house. Looking back, I owe my mom for the way I keep things neat now. Our house was always so organized it could’ve been in a magazine.
My mom shared a lot of tips with me, especially on using those small cupboards that many kitchens have above the fridge. You know the ones I’m talking about? If you have them too, keep reading to learn some ideas for making the most of them.
At first glance, those small cupboards above the fridge might not seem all that useful.
They’re usually not big enough for larger items, and putting everyday things like plates or cups up that high isn’t very practical.
So, what should you do with them?
If you’re wondering how to make use of those small cupboards above your fridge, here are some handy tips!
**Storage for Kitchen Gadgets You Rarely Use**
These cupboards aren’t the best spot for things you use every day, but they’re perfect for items that only come out occasionally. This could include things like food processors, blenders, or waffle makers that you don’t need all the time.
**Canned Goods and Baking Supplies**
Most canned foods and baking supplies have long shelf lives, so it’s okay if they sit out of reach for a while. Consider storing cans or baking items up here if you only need them now and then, like weekend baking ingredients.
**Cookbooks**
If you have cookbooks you’d like to keep tidy and out of the way, this high cupboard can be a good storage place. I actually use mine for this purpose, and it keeps my books organized without taking up counter space.
Here are some more ideas for using those small cupboards above your fridge!
**Pantry Items and Spices**
Just like canned foods, some pantry items and spices can fit well in these cupboards. You might also use a small spice rack to keep your cooking spices organized and out of the way up here.
**Kitchen Towels**
If you buy kitchen towels in bulk, this can be a good storage space for them. Keeping them up high saves room in other drawers and keeps them organized.
**Special Occasion China**
If you have fine china or special cutlery that’s only used for special occasions, storing them above the fridge might make sense. It keeps them safe and out of reach of children.
**Safety Tips**
Always be careful with these cupboards. Avoid storing anything too heavy that could be hard to lift down safely. A sturdy stool or step ladder is best for reaching these items, and remember that the heat from the fridge below can make this space unsuitable for certain items.
What do you use your above-fridge cupboards for? Let us know!
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