Monday, October 02, 2006

Not for Mousaka




















Let me tell you a little bit about my dad. He's the coolest...ok... maybe not the coolest be he is the greatest dad in the world. Everything I learned about life that is important I learned from him, if not him, my mom. Really. How many people can say that about their parents. It is a rare blessing and one that I count every day.
I was basically raised to believe that I was most assuredly precious in his eyes. Not spoiled or princess-like, but precious and to be treasured. I never had to doubt that he loved me. He was one of those dads that took the time to tell me daily. He built me up with his words and affection and his time. **No wonder I am always bugging Dan to spend more time adoring me** LOL.
Just when you think Dad (who NEVER drinks) is just a little too uptight he surprises you by grabbing your margarita and taking a slurp. Probably just for the sheer enjoyment of watching your shocked face and the giggles that follow.
He LOVED getting me up in the morning. He would throw off the covers and drag me by my feet off the bed all the while singing "Good morning Good morning Good morning. It's time to rise in shine!!" in his perkiest voice.

Stuff Dad Taught Me

1. Respect your mother

2. Leftover cake makes a fantastic breakfast

3. Pay tithes for God's blessings in your life

4. Never drive your car with less than a 1/4 tank of gas

5. Pump your brakes in the rain

6. Chocolate chip cookie dough is better than the cookies

7. Look to my husband first for advice, and respect him for it

8. Speak softly and negotiate calmly first. (I have a hard time with that one)

9. Let it go (or in his words "Don't be a dog with a bone."

Most importantly, he taught me to really truly and deeply love the Lord. Sometimes I wonder how I am going to do that with my kids. Not to raise them "religiously" but to have a relationship with Jesus that lasts a lifetime. I do know this, that everything Dad learned about being a dad, he learned from the Lord. So I guess that is where I'll draw from. With a few frantic, "I think I am ruining my kids" phone calls to dad in between.

9 comments:

Mz.Elle said...

May I have your dad?
:)
This is a beautiful tribute!

Christina_the_wench said...

What a post! We got Dads that are alike in so many ways. They ARE the coolest!

Side note: Does your dad still ask if you changed the oil in your car lately? Mine still asks and I am 39. lol

Gingers Mom said...

My dad knows better than to ask me if I changed the oil. That is what husbands and dads are for. LOL!

Miss Kelly said...

I always loved both your parents. They always made me feel comfortable and treated me like family.
I remember when we were little and your dad would come home from work and you hook onto his leg while he was walking and he'd keep walking with you hooked around his leg. It looked so fun! My dad would've just shaken me off...

Trailady said...

Sounds like you have a really great Dad. I'm a sucker for my Daddy- even though we've never really been close. He was gone all the time on the road when I was a kid, so I never really knew him. But he's still my hero. :o)

Thanks for sharing!!!

Catch said...

How nice this was! Daughters are very special to their Daddies!!I was the only daughter so I was very special! And my Father, God rest his soul, was a very special Father!

Caro said...

What a lovely post.

You have the kind of Dad every little girl wants.

And it sounds like he did pretty well in the daughter department too.

Cristina said...

What a nice tribute to your Dad. Does he read your blog? I hope he sees this!

MSU gal said...

Great post. My dad passed away a few years ago and i miss him terribly. you reminded me that he taught me never to let my gas tank go under a quarter in town and half on the highway!