MY DAD

Happy Father's Day to my Dad! I have such vivid memories of my dad playing with us when we were little. He would give us shoulder rides, piggy-back rides, pick us up by our ears (while we held onto his forearms), wrestle, make us laugh and tease us. He has a great sense of humor, but not everyone knows that about him. He tends to be very quiet and reserved and some think he comes off as gruff. But those who know him and spend time with him know how funny and playful he is.

My dad is NOT affectionate at all and has a very hard time expressing any feelings or emotions. He can BARELY say, "I love you" without cringing. But we know how he feels about us anyway. He grew up with a troubled mother who wasn't too interested in him or his sister and divorced their father when they were young. There wasn't too much involvement from his father from that point. My dad tells stories of his mother tying him to a rope in the backyard because she didn't want him bothering her and didn't want to watch him. She started him in school when he was only four because she didn't want to deal with him. She became an alcoholic and in one drunken stupor started the house on fire and my dad had to carry her and her drunk companions out of the house when he was just a teen. He didn't have the best example of an affectionate, loving mother so he just feels uncomfortable with it.

He was very athletic, but a little on the short and small side, so he worked and practiced very hard to become better. He tells us stories of going out by himself and hitting balls and then running out to shag them and doing it all again and again, past dark. He would run, lift weights, do pushups, etc. so he could get better, stronger and faster. He continues, to this day, to lift weights and run so he can stay in shape. He joined the church when he was 19 (I think?), which we are so grateful for. He was drafted into the Army and was a paratrooper and has entertained us with his Army stories. Thankfully, his duty was served and he was discharged right before they sent his group to Vietnam.

We were all very active in sports growing up and my dad always supported us and would teach and show us things. He would come to my softball games and in between innings would come over to give me some pointers of things he noticed. I don't think they were always well received by me, but they should have been. I loved having him there because I wanted him to be proud of me. I remember one game in particular, I hit an in-the-park homerun and I heard my dad boasting to the man next to him how fast I was. At our Powder Puff football game, my dad was bragging about how quick, agile, and fast I was to some other people at the game. I'm sure he doesn't remember, but it meant the world to me. He taught us to work hard, practice, have confidence and never give up.

I remember my friends, especially in high school, thinking that my dad was scary and mean. This didn't bode well for me having any boyfriends because they were way too afraid of my dad and brothers. My advice to all fathers who have daughters - BE SCARY! Be very, very scary.

I honor my dad for his examples of integrity and honesty. He ALWAYS tells the truth, even if it hurts. He just can't help himself. He is selfless and generous, almost to a fault. He is a realist, but also optimistic. He is a stickler for being prompt. Actually, that's putting it mildly. He is so anxious about getting somewhere on time, that he is ALWAYS early....really early.

Most of all, he has a strong testimony of the gospel. Despite my initial selfish protests, I am so grateful to him and my mom for serving a mission. They have sacrificed so much their whole lives and continue to do so, all to serve the Lord and their children.

I love you, Dad! Your grandchildren adore their Papa! Happy Father's Day!