a Fathers Day shout out...

I checked my Facebook account today, and it was flooded with pictures of Dads!

Fathers, Grandpas, husbands, brothers, uncles... I loved seeing them. A lot of special tributes.

Sometimes I think that the men in my (all?) life get the shaft. They work so hard and don't always get the respect & acknowledgement they deserve.

My Dad. What can I say about someone who is a hard worker, kind, caring, intelligent, sweet, funny man? Who absolutely adores my Mom, takes amazing care of his Mother? Who took Harmony's dog so that we could live in our housing? Hmmm, I don't know how to do him justice. Some of my favorite memories of him are, going to his office to get a root beer from the pop machine, listening to Johnny Cash (which I still do) watching Cary Grant movies, scripture study in the mornings, and of course our girls trip to Reno & California.

My husband. The father of my children. The head of our home. My rock. My best friend. He works hard. He financially supports us so that I can be home with the kids. He helps with homework (especially math), goes to Scouts, takes the kids to movies, grills a mean steak, makes huge Saturday/Sunday breakfasts. He builds Legos, cheers on his team and is the chief "builder" of all furniture in our home. Favorite memories with my hubby? They are still happening! Seeing him delicately wash Harmony when she was born, seeing him pass the sacrament with Ethan & Connor, snuggling with Mason and then falling asleep, doing his best to help Ivan & support me in all my meetings and appointments for Ivan. Trips as a family, family movie nights...

My father in law. Jim is a quiet man, maybe because he can't get a word in with me around? Quite possibly. I feel sad that I don't know him very well. He has always treated me with love and kindness. Giving me genuine compliments. Teaching my husband. Loving my kids. Encouraging us.
(He also apparently doesn't like having his picture taken because I can't find any on my computer!)

Thank you to the men in my life. For being who you are...and blessing my life. Happy Fathers Day!

A tribute

Fathers Day was actually yesterday for us. And as the clock wound down until the time that Ben had to go to the airport, I found myself observing. Watching him interact with all the kids before he left. Ben snuggled on the couch with Connor, watching Star Wars. (Connor got him Revenge of the Sith for Fathers Day, b/c Connor really wanted to see it!) They sat together and were just content to sit. Ethan, is not a cuddler and Ben didn't push it. Giving him a high five instead. Ivan was so crabby (he's not feeling well) and so didn't want anything to do with him. Harmony, on the other hand, was very emotional and kept saying, "please don't go". He held her and comforted her and told her the words that she needed to hear.

I am so grateful for Ben and the wonderful father that he is. Our kids all have different personalities and he doesn't push them to be something they are not. He loves them for who they are.

Ben, unfortunatley, doesn't have the kind of schedule where he gets to spend a lot of time with the kids. By the time he gets off of work, we eat dinner, do homework, there just isn't that much free time left. But he is always willing to play baseball with them, take them out to the garden, take them to the movies, or go swimming. He spoils them like no other. Always wanting to give them whatever they want. You can find him playing legos, building train tracks, designing things for Harmony and just being there. I love you Ben. Happy Fathers Day!

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And now onto my father. I have been so bad about getting my cards out on time lately. But it doesn't mean that I haven't been thinking about my Dad. Yesterday at church, the scripture, " I Nephi having been born of goodly parents, wherefore I had learned the way of my Father" (ok not exact quote but...) all I was thinking was amen to that.

I have such wonderful memories of my Dad. From watching Cary Grant movies with him, to raking the leaves in the fall, to the time that he took all of us girls to California with him. We listened to Rick Dees and I remember vividly all of us singing, "That's Amore." But there is something that my Dad did, that he probably doesn't even remember, that has stayed with me.

When I was in high school, struggling with making good decisions, Dad said to me, "Marie if you ever need me as an excuse, do it. I don't care what your friends think of me. I care about you and that you are making good decisions. If you are struggling with "should I go or not" and you feel you shouldn't, but are too embarresed to tell your friends, just roll your eyes and say, " My Dad won't let me."

It just made me realize how much he loved and cared for me. And he still does. I love you Dad, Happy Fathers Day!