Father's Day Part One

My Dad is the dad above all dads. I struggle to relate to most women I meet, that have suffered through childhoods with men that either weren't there for them, or if they were they abused them, or offered them nothing.

My Father is everything a father should be. If you met him, you would see how much he loves my mom. He adores every part of her. He always told me too. "Isn't your mother so beautiful today?" he always said to me, which I always agreed. I watched him bring her home things, give her kisses, compliments and love. She is his favorite person, and his best friend. He taught me what a great husband looks like, and how a Father balances the two.

He is an awesome provider. When I was young, he made the decision to go into business for himself, and made a way to provide everything we needed, but also made a way for time with us. I always felt the secure in my home, and with my needs even though I know that we had really rough times financially, he always made me feel like he would give me everything I needed. He woke me up most mornings, gave me a hug and kiss and breakfast. When he got home from work (we always counted down the minutes in the evening until he returned), we would tackle him with hugs as he walked through the door. He always made us wait until he changed out of his suit and tie, and we danced around in excitement until he was ready. He then became our human jungle gym/wrestler, as we would wrestle for hours (at least that is what it seemed) on the living room floor. We hung out on the weekends, and he was always there.

He was an awesome leader, teaching me about Jesus. Some mornings when I woke up early, I would get out of bed to find him in his PJ's sitting at the dining room table reading his Bible. I would crawl into his lap and he would teach me the stories he was learning himself. He was a man of incredibly high integrity. He prayed with us all the time, and taught me about my other Father, the one in Heaven.

He loved so freely. Everything I asked for I had to pay for with a hug. "Dad, can you make me a bowl of cereal?" to which he would respond "if I can get a hug". When we hugged, he whispered in my ear how I was the best hugger in the world. He told me every day how much he loved me, how special I was, how beautiful I was, and how I could do anything I dreamed of. He never with held emotion, love, touch, attention. It flowed so much from him.

As a teenager, and then a woman, he has always been a great listener, a supporter, someone I could talk to about anything. He was always sure to protect me, yet allowed me to have freedom. He taught me how to be independent, and made me feel worthy.

My husband is like my dad in so many ways. I saw the value in my husband, and fell in love with him at such a young age, I believe, because my dad taught me I was worthy of him, and the kind of love he could show me.

As I've grown up, moved out, gotten married, had a baby, he has been there for me through everything, and I cherish our relationship so much.

He also respects and loves my husband, and treats him like a son (and always has), and he treats my little girl like a princess... just the best papa around.

I know that many people say "my dad is the best dad", but I TRULY mean it, in every way a dad could be a great dad, he is.

Thank you Daddy for everything. I love you so much!

Happy Father's Day!