Happy Father's Day

Better late than never, right?  I still have 10 more minutes left before Father's Day is over.  Just wanted to take a minute to honor my 3 most favorite Fathers in the whole wide world.  First, my husband Steve, the father of my children.  Thank you for all you do for our family.  Thank you for working night and day to give us the life we have.  Thank you for being an honorable Priesthood holder.  Thank you for being such a good example to our children.  Thank you for helping me to become a better person.  And most of all, thank you for loving me unconditionally.

To my dad.  I miss you terribly.  This is the part where I cheat and use a little copy and paste action and plagiarize my sister's words.  She posted this on Facebook today and it sums up everything I would say perfectly and I now have less than 10 minutes before the clock strikes 12, so here it goes: 

Goodness. I miss my dad today. He was the best father. Always the funniest person in the room. He was the funniest person I know. He knew everyone. I never forget being on vacation and standing in line with him 1,000 miles from home and he starting talking to the person behind us. Come to find out he knew them. That always happened wherever we went. I always introduced myself as "Earl's daughter" because I was proud to be his daughter and I knew that the person would instantly know who I was. When I found my wedding dress I wouldn't buy it until he approved. Which he did. He told me the dress should show off the bride and not the other way around. He always took me shopping for clothes. He scared my boyfriends. He was friends with my friends. He loved my sons. He gave the best advice. He taught me to work hard. Some of my best memories are of working next to him. He taught me the joy of spontaneity. He knew everything. I miss calling him to get him to verify where something used to be in Dallas. He never needed a map. Once he went somewhere once he could always get back. Even all the way to California. Or somewhere in remote Montana. He knew the most random details about movies and music and life. He took us cool places. He was always interested in what was happening in my life. Always at my games, school functions, important events. He was proud of me and he told me. I was convinced I was his favorite but am pretty positive my other siblings would say the same thing. He expected great things from me. He was a wonderful leader and example. He was compassionate and giving. He taught me that you are never poor when you are generous. I am sad he isn't here any more. I am sad my kids don't get to be around him. But his legacy lives on in me and them. I am looking forward to a sweet reunion someday in heaven where I am sure he is the life of the party and where he will introduce me to everyone he knows.

And Happy Father's Day to my Father-in-Law.  Thank you for raising up a fine young man who became my husband.  Thank you for all the love you show to me and my children.  Thank you for the choice you made many years ago to leave all that you knew and embrace a new religion that you would later raise your family in.  Thank you for choosing their mother wisely.  Thank you for the legacy you have passed on to my children.