My father

As I sat down this morning to write a Facebook post about my dad I realized I had so much more to say than would fit on a small status box. There are too many details on who he is and what he's done than just a simple "Happy Father's Day, dad, hope it's a great one". To do him justice I need to be able to describe his love, his selflessness, his faithfulness and all the other characteristics that make my father a dad. 

You always hear people say, "anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a dad." I agree with that statement whole heartedly, but I can't speak from experience. You see my father is my dad. He's a man that I respect more than any other man on this planet. Not because he demanded that respect but because he earned it. He earned it by being present in my life. 

In case you've never met the man I call dad, here's a little history for you. He grew up in a small town, little opportunity and dirt poor. He married my mom when they were young, she 17 and he 21. They struggled financially for many years, but he worked, he never relied on anyone or assumed anyone owed him anything. I can remember being a young girl in elementary, I had absolutely no idea that we were poor. I knew my dad worked, I knew my mom stayed home, I knew we had food every night, and I knew that I didn't do without. A big item I wanted might only come at Christmas, but that was okay and expected. It wasn't until I got into my teen years that my father had worked himself into a position with more money. It didn't come easily though, it came with many days of him drenched to the core from working out in the 100+ degree Texas weather to provide a better life for his family. I can remember evenings when he would come home soaked and so tired that he couldn't take the boots off of his own feet. That's my dad. A constant provider. 

As I just stated, my dad worked very hard for the things that we had. It might be dark when he finally stepped foot in the house, but you can bet it was work and then home (except Wednesday nights and then it was church), no clubs, no late night hanging with friends, it was home. He made sure he was home when it was time to relax in the evenings. He might not make it to dinner, but he was there before my eyes closed each and every night. Another thing thing he always made sure of is that he was at big and small events....especially when it came to sports. I don't think he ever missed a single ball game I played, a cross country meet I ran, or a track meet that I jumped in. He was at the sidelines with advice, some positive...some realistic lol. He was my biggest fan, always wearing blue and gold proudly, and never ceasing to brag on a job well done. That's my dad. Always present. 

As with most people, I've had moments of great success and then great disappointments. I've had moments of joy at the birth of both of my babies, my dad was there to share in that joy. I've had moments of great success at college graduations, and my dad was there. And then during my moments of sadness at the loss of a loved one or a life disappointment, he was there as a shoulder to cry on. Neither my dad nor I are emotionally expressive, so in moments that we show it, it's a special connection. I can remember climbing in my dad's lap, in a chair and just crying over something that went wrong. He just held me me until I stopped. We may not hug, we may not express our love daily, but when it's time to celebrate or I-mourn he's there. I know if I need something all I need to do is pick up the phone. That's my dad. A stronghold. 

I could go on and on about the father that I have. I could tell you about the moments that we flew down mountains with the snow blasting us in the face, or how at every school dance I ever had that he always asked me to dance on "wonderful tonight", or how he never raised his voice at me or a hand to me that wasn't in love. I could go on about how Godly of a man he is, and how he showed me a love for God and people. I could tell you how I've judged every man I've ever met based on the way my father treated me and taught me to expect to be treated. I could tell you all about how we can sit and have in depth conversations over conspiracies. Or how I miss the sound of him banging on the piano every Sunday morning and the smell of his French toast that he makes and layers with powdered sugar. I could say so much...but I'll say that he is by far, hands down, the best dad a girl could have ever asked for. I love you dad, and I hope you have a fantastic Father's Day.