Sunday, June 17, 2007
My favorite moments with my Dad:
-playing soccer and wiffle ball in the front yard as a kid
-never leaving the basketball court until we both made a swish
-playing in the river up at "the lot"
-our Daddy-Daughter camping trips to Lake Wenatchee as a teen
-when I was 19 and we reconciled our difficult relationship after I "moved out" after a huge argument
-all those trips to Lake Chelan as a kid and racing on the slides at the waterslides
-the Christmas you sent mom and I on a scavenger hunt for diamond earrings you got us
-driving to S. California (19 hours straight!) to take me to Bible College
-Magic Mountain all day- getting soaked; Superman ride and the film case
-Sitting by the lake on the college campus at night praying together
-going to that hole in the wall mexican place to eat in scary Reseda.
-passing out at the Holiday Inn for like 8 hours after driving 19 hours solid
-saying goodbye to him as he went to the airport and I was "all alone" for the first when I went to college
-flying down to California to drive back home with me from college and hitting the last In-N-Out burger before we got to Northern California. DoubleDouble with fries and a shake!
-our family trip to Maui, snorkeling out at the crater together
-my first wedding rehearsal and wedding day
-my "big" ultrasound with Jack- when we could see it was a boy and he said "Hi Jack!"
-watching him hold his first grandchild, and having him in the room when he was born
-watching him play with Jack
-telling him I was pregnant again
-When my ex was being deployed for a year and I was 5 months pregnant and had a 7 month old baby, he flew out to Kansas to drive me home, so I could live in his house for the next year. That was a great road trip.
-the prayer he prayed with me moments before Jilly was born
-watching him hold his granddaughter- pure joy!
-helping me get our house in Kansas in order and decorated for the return of my ex
-when I had to call him to tell him I was leaving my husband and was so afraid of disappointing him, he supported me and told me I had nothing to be ashamed of.
-picking him up at the Denver airport as I was leaving my ex in Kansas to go home to Washington, my Dad just drove, let me talk when I needed to talk, laughed with me when I needed to laugh, and let me be quiet when I needed to be quiet.
-watching American Idol together and critiquing it
-teaching him how to download music, etc. Basically all the times I was his tech support
-our grocery store trips together to pick up stuff for dinner when I "drop by" to hang out
-all of our talks
-the trip to Mississippi. The whole time. I had so much fun with him- awesome to serve the Lord with your Dad
-all the times I have found letters or notes hidden in a bag or drawer from him, with lists like this about me.
Thanks for being such a great dad, best friend, and leader.
You've set the bar pretty high, I don't know if there are many men out there who can meet the standards I now have for how I should be treated and loved.
You've done your job well.
I know how lucky I am to have you for my very own Daddy.
Dad and I at the New Orleans Cafe outside of Biloxi, MS. December 2006
2 comments:
To my princess.....I am overwhelmed with tears and gladness for the times I have had with you as a little girl and now a grown woman. No Dad has ever been as blessed as me to have such an awesome daughter as you. I am sure that I do not deserve or merit all the praise you have heaped on me, but I can accept it with all the love and grace that you have extended to your "old man" over the years. I did try my best to create lasting memories for you. As I watch you interact with our children I can see that you "got" that secret down...."create for them great memories and meaningful milestones" and your children will always remember you...no matter how short your time or long your time is here. The Lord has granted me many special moments with you from the first time I saw you on an ultrasound, to the first time I held you, from picking out your Christmas dresses, giving you birthday parties, teaching you to drive, walking you down the aisle, being there when your children were born and helping you through tougher times than anyone should have to go through. To me, you are the hero....you are the example. Thank you for this amazing bit of praise you have sent my way....I love you!! Dad
Melissa I am weeping reading this post and your dad's reply. How beautiful, real, and God-given is your relationship. My dad did the best job he could parenting, with the skills that he had, and I thank him for that. My sister and I turned out pretty normal. But I've always, always wished that I had YOUR kind of relationship with my Dad. He now has Alzheimer's and is beginning a slow descent into forgetfulness and confusion, and I know I won't be able to create a new relationship with him as adults (one that I always desired). I look at your list and know that I need to make one of my own, with my own good memories, and treasure those.
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