I wanna take a minute or two and give much respect due To the man that's made a difference in my world

 

Happy Birthday in Heaven Daddy!  He would have been 95 today. I miss him just as much today as I did when he passed.  But today I want to celebrate the man he was and the impact he had on my life and the lives of my children.  It is a big one.  And the more that time goes by and I realize similarities in people and situations, the more I realize that my dad was not an ordinary man.  Quite the opposite.  I believe he was a rare breed, one that I pray my daughter finds in her future spouse.  I know he was not perfect, and I am sure my mom had her issues with him as a husband, but the more I observe men and their similarities the more I realize my dad was not like most men.

My dad was a hardworking man.  He provided for us up until the day he passed if I am being honest.  However, unlike most men I come in contact with my dad was not defined by what he did for a living.  He worked to provide for his

family.  He worked long hours most days, but when he came home?  Work was left behind.  I remember a few funny dinnertime stories about a customer he had in the chair that day, or a sad story when one of his regulars passed away and he attended the funeral.  Other than that - his concern was inside the walls of our home.  He wanted to ensure that we were raised properly (often told a story from my grandpa saying when you plant a tree if the roots are strong even though the branches might grow crooked the roots stay firm).  I find his words come back to me so frequently and they hit me in different ways.  

My daughter and I were discussing the other day how men often talk a big game.  They have grand ideas and plans, yet they often don't follow through with what they say they will do.  I am quite the opposite.  If I say I am going to do something, I do it.  My kids will tell you that if mommy made a promise, they knew that I would stick to it.  If I said I was going to do something I did it -

where they knew their father would often spout off things in the moment and not follow through.  I often thought that was something that was singular to his personality, however when my daughter and I were discussing this we rattled off similarities of this theory and came to the conclusion it is very common with men.   I realized that my dad always did what he said he would do.  I also realized my middle son does as well.  If he says he is going to do something, he will do it.  I am extremely proud of him for that (along with a plethora of other things!!) He truly reminds me so much of my dad in so many ways and as he prepares to become a father, I know that my father will be guiding him, and his words will come to my son.  I believe he will be a kinder, gentler version of the father my dad was, and my granddaughter is so lucky to have him as a dad.

I could go on and on about stories about my dad and why he was just such a big part of shaping me as an adult.  As a child, it was definitely more my mother but as an adult?  Wow, my dad was just my rock, and he is why I will not settle for less than I deserve anymore.  He raised me to be strong - but he didn't want me to have to bear my burdens alone.  I know he wanted me to have someone to share the load with and I am sure he is working magic in heaven to show me that there are men that are like him.  Men that mean what they say

and say what they mean.  I ask him every day to provide that for my daughter.  I pray she will not have to have her heart broken the way mine has been.  I pray my father will deliver a man worthy of her - a man my daddy would approve of.  And I know my mom is whipping up a fresh strawberry shortcake today and my dad is shaking his gifts guessing what's in them.   Take today off Daddy - we will all be fine!  I am, after all, your daughter!  And today is a significant day in the life.