Father's Day

I've had some seriously great examples of fathers. Starting with my own. Fist I'd like to say that the one thing that I really learned from my father on this subject is that I know of the love of my Heavenly Father because of my own father here. He showed me what love was and then taught me that I was loved even more by my Heavenly Father. I truly understood what that would mean even before I had kids. That it was huge ... that it was all encompassing ... forever ... non-tolerant for wrong ... forgiving ... teaching ... and loving. With that said I then learned from him what value I had. All of these things reflect back to my Heavenly Father's love too.

I'm the only girl in my family. I'm lucky because I can truly feel the way Frenchy talked about dads in Grease. "The only man a girl can count on is her daddy." I know that's not true for everyone but it was for me. Because of that I have been able to have some pretty amazing experiences and to guide my life in a direction towards a great dad for my children. But even with dating. My dates were told and shown that I was special and important. He met everyone of them, baring my husband who got in the back door, with a shotgun and his ace of spades he shot bulls eye at 500 yards or something. He would then tell the boy that I'm his only daughter and that he knows what he looks like and isn't afraid to hunt him down like the dog he is. The next date he wasn't even at the door to answer. He would then tell the boy, who is stunned at this point at the complete 360 that is this date, that I'm still special and important but to just remember what last time was like. I was never late for dates because I knew what they would go through. But when I went to college my first date to pick me up at my dorm was weird. I just left. No one told this boy how important or loved or valued I was. No one even knew what he was wearing or looked like to "hunt down" later. I have to say I didn't like it.

Now girls. There's nothing sexier than a man in uniform right? Wrong. There is. Your man in uniform holding his baby. I love seeing it. Where they'll switch arms with the baby to salute and the other soldier just keeps on going. I know I might get in trouble with Kemper for this but this is my favorite shot of him showing love to our boy. It was AIT graduation in Goodfellow AFB, TX. He's getting pinned and at attention and not to move at all. Brenner is 20 months and wanted Daddy. Right after I took the shot he touched Brenner's head and Brenner just stood there for a second. He got his daddy and then he was okay.

And now that Beckett's here he's even better. I can't believe how much boys just love that their dads are their own personal jungle gym. They both beg to wrestle the second he comes through the door. I'm constantly having to say get off your dad or stop hurting him. And then he comes up growling and roaring like Arnold Swartzenegger in Kindergarten Cop. They just love him and I'm so lucky that he appreciates their adoration.

I think I love Dad's for the fact that it's their job to hold us and take care of us and teach us how to do it on our own. Mine didn't let me be a Daddy's Girl. Wouldn't even help me get my bike off the hook in the garage. "What would you do if I wasn't here?" "This is a mans world. You gotta fight just like them to get to the top. THEN you can change the rules. But the rules aren't going to change for you. You can do it." He knew who I was. Loved me because of it and in spite of it. But when I moved out to go to college it changed. He'd call more and want to help me more. It was new for me to see him want to help me. When I was packing up my little family to drive to TX from CA I had a miscarriage and was in the hospital. Brian was gone and Brenner was only 15 mo. Dad flew down and drove me the whole way. He was a constant in Brenner's life while Kemper was in Korea. Every day he saw & played with Brenner. He was so excited about being a Papa. He was a great Papa. Brenner still remembers him and his love for him. What a good Daddy. We still eat Papa Ideas.

But the one thing I wanted to hear from him the most is pretty similar to the scriptures about a good and faithful servant. But this was the gospel according to David. And I remember that the last Sunday I had with him he whispered in my ear. "Ya done good Em."

Thanks Dad.