One of the most important men in my life is my father.
The personal relationship I share with my dad is priceless.
He has a heart of gold filled with overflowing patience.
And with children like my siblings and I, he sure as heck needed that patience.
He's kind, loving, and playful with a contagious laugh that
radiates happiness into your heart.
I remember growing up, and always waiting for my dad to come tuck me in.
There was NO way I could fall asleep without that goodnight kiss.
He's been my confidant, my friend and my ally.
Always offering advice or trying to comfort.
I can't begin to tell you how many times he wiped away tears from my cheeks.
So many memories rush into my mind when I think of my dad.
from his corny jokes to his "cooking" methods.
Now I use parenthesis for a few reasons.
My dad nowadays doesn't cook.
He did once, and I ended up in the hospital with appendicitis.
Sure, it MAY have been a coincidence.
But it's easier to blame his cooking.
Nowadays, cooking for him means take-out.
Other memories involve him nearly peeing his pants.
Now, my dad HATES to be tickled.
And I do mean hates it!
he gets somewhat mad when we tickle him.
it's the funniest thing in the world.
picture this
approximately 170b man
his body tenses up, his arms and legs lock out
and he just blurts out this extremely contagious yelp for help.
Hilarious right?
We've found out that if we tickle him long enough,
he'll drop to his knees and tears will roll down his cheeks.
As much as he hates it, We all get a good laugh out of it.
I'm currently living in a different state than my dad.
and I would definitely be lying if I said I didn't miss him.
But there's one life lesson he taught me that I will forever be thankful for.
Growing up, I saw the way he looked at my mom.
The way he respected her and the way he loved her.
Because of him, I had a sense of what I wanted to find later in life.
And for this, I will forever be thankful.
He's taught me a lot in these last 24 years and the lessons have not stopped.
I'm excited to see what else I can learn.
All I can say is Thank You to him
for the sacrifices, unconditional love, and lessons.
My dad is my hero,
my friend and
I will forever be his little princess.
The little things he does are the most important, and
the simple things he did when I was a child are the ones I remember the most.
I asked my husband what his father meant to him, and this is what he responded with.
"It's kind of hard to put into words. I guess, consistent example whether I liked it or not. Took care of me because it was about me rather than what he wanted. Basically for my greater good.
He was there to be my father but ended up being my friend at the same point. As a kid, your father is such a big aspect in your life. Taught me how to be respectful to women, keep priorities straight, be a strong priesthood holder. He was always there to talk to even though we were scared to approach him. He was always willing to help and never came down on us for it."
What constitutes someone to be deemed a "father"?
I believe society would argue that a father figure doesn't necessarily refer to an
individual whose genes can be found in your DNA.
I would have to agree.
It's someone who has helped guide you on the path of your own becoming.
Here's what I mean,
a father, like a mother, guides you as you grow.
offers advice, wipes away tears and teaches valuable life lessons.
I am thankful for the wonderful father figures in the world.
My father in law raised the man of my dreams.
and my father is one of my best friends.