As I thought about what to share today, many thoughts and memories quickly came to mind. Memories from childhood to memories as a teenager to memories now… and through it all, I was always daddy’s little girl. There was never a time when dad wasn’t walking each step by my side, encouraging me when I was down, disciplining me when I was out of line, loving me when I drove him crazy, and supporting me through tough decisions.
I remember countless times running into problems, whether it be while driving or with my car or at my house or anything else that came up, my first thought would be to call dad. He will know what to do cause there never seemed to be anything that dad wasn’t good at or couldn’t figure out. He was a walking book of knowledge that I am so glad I got to experience… Or was made to experience.
I remember very clearly being at a soccer game in high school when someone announced my car had a flat tire. How convenient I thought that dad and mom happened to be at the game. So I turned around and yelled to dad, “My car has a flat tire and it needs changed.” Dad got that little smile on his face that we all know so well and nicely yelled back, “This seems like a perfect time for you to learn how to change your own tire.” So much to my chagrin, dad stood by my jeep and taught me how to change my tire.
And then there are many memories of dad being surrounded by children. It seemed all his life, children where drawn to him and he loved being with them. This became all the more evident to me last summer when I gave birth to Emma, dad’s first and only grandchild. Our happy fun-loving little girl had a rough start of it. Spending the first 6 weeks of her life crying and wanting to be held. And when PJ and I didn’t think we could walk any more with her that day, dad would take Emma, put her on his shoulder, and start walking. Within minutes, she would nuzzle in on his neck and sleep like a baby should. He would come back from walking around the circle at the farm smiling, enjoying every second of holding Emma, and showering her with love.
And now as Emma asks where Pop-Pop is, she responds to her own question… “Jesus.” She knows and we know that Dad is in a much better place, sitting at the feet of Jesus. And while there is a void left here on Earth, we celebrate in the fact that one day we will see him again and be together as a family, spending eternity in Heaven.
So in closing, here is something that speaks of who my dad was.
For a Man I’m Proud to Call My Dad
My dad was a man of strength… from the arms that carried me as a little girl to the unwavering support he surrounded me with until the end.
My dad was a man of character… through his commitment to always do the right thing and raising me to do the same.
My dad was a man of love… from the way he showed compassion toward others to the way he defined his own happiness by mine.
My dad was a man of kindness… from always doing things for me to show his love to doing things for others to show me how to live.
He was a man of respect… the kind of man I’m so proud to call my Dad.
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