My Dad...A Father's Day Tribute

One of my earliest memories is of me trying to mimic the way my dad ran up and down the stairs two at a time. I also remember watching him get ready for his church basketball games and being fascinated by the way he put on his socks (he layered a couple of pairs and they came up past his knees). I can't talk about my childhood memories of my dad without sharing my first memory of life. I was only two and a half but this moment has always stuck with me. I was standing in the back of a big empty moving truck and my dad was convincing me to run and touch the back wall of the inside of the truck so that he could "time me." I remember reluctantly agreeing and as soon as I reached the back of the truck my dad pulled down the door and I was locked inside the dark empty space. My dad is a life-long teaser and to this day he will hold me down and tickle me if he gets the chance.

I thought my dad was the smartest person in the world until I took a Latin American Politics class my senior year in college and found out that Reagan isn't akin to God (that was a shocking day). Never-the-less, I still think my dad is a pretty smart guy, though, I have learned it is always good to do your own research. My dad is a great person to get advice from because he is generally very level headed and has the ability to relate both sides of an issue (as long as it isn't a political issue) in a way that will give you the information you need to make your own decision.

My dad instilled in me a passion for history (though I am not quite as excited as he is about stopping at every podunk historical stop on road trips) and good books. My dad loves to read and listen to books on tape. I am like my dad in that I am not really that into music and would much prefer to listen to talk radio or a book on tape or nothing at all while I am in the car.

Now on to my photo tribute...

1989. Our first church sponsored daddy-daughter date. We were Lucy and Ricky. I don't remember what the theme was but I remember that my dad won 1st place in the limbo contest which ignited a passion for limbo in me. I won third place in a limbo contest four years ago. My dad is also a great hula hooper. He taught me how to ride a bike, twirl a baton (he is seriously really good at baton), and do the twirling bum trick on the trampoline.

2001. Dancing at my wedding. I am the oldest and have always had to be the one to break my dad in on things (I was the worst driver ever and I am still really sorry about crashing the travel van into the garage) but thankfully I was the second daughter to get married and I will always be thankful to Lara for not making me pave the way on that one.

1999. I love this picture. It was taken in Costa Rica at the moment I saw my dad for the first time in a year and a half. My dad wrote me every single week while I was on my mission. He wrote the best letters, giving me news but not in a way that made me homesick. He would also share his testimony and things that he was learning as he prepared his Sunday School lessons. I still remember the first letter I received from my dad after I arrived in Costa Rica. He told me a story about his first week in the mission field (he served in Argentina and his Spanish is still awesome) when some of the other missionaries played a joke on him and had someone come running after him with a gun.

1977. I think this picture was taken at Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. My parents took advantage of living in D.C. and took me every where with them as they toured all of the historical sites. My dad loves little kids and I have tons of pictures of me on his shoulders or riding on his back. I have to say one of the funnest things for me has been watching my dad as a grandfather.

I love you dad! Happy Father's Day!