Father! - to God himself we cannot give a holier name. ~William Wordsworth

Now what kind of a person would I be if I didn't talk about my Father on the day dedicated to Father's! I began this blog this morning by looking for quotes. I wish I had the skills to write words so beautiful to express my feelings toward my Daddy. I will do my best, but quotes will certainly emphasize what I cannot.

First off- you really have to be in the right mood or willing to change your mood to fully appreciate the love and emotion that was put into writing this.

There were a few things I was sure of when I was little about my Dad and I am still sure of them now. I knew and still know he loves me, that he loves my Mom. I know he is a good and strong man. I know he truly cares about people.

It warms my heart to watch my Father be so loving to my two little boys. It brings me such joy to hear my two year old gleefully shout "Grampa!" when he sees my Dad. Or when he'll walk around the house talking on his cellphone to my dad who isn't really there. I can only imagine that when I was little I had the same adoration toward my dad as I see my little boy show toward him.

One song I have always loved and always make me cry when I think about my Daddy:

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home
Glad as I can be,
clap my hands and shout for joy
and climb upon his knee.
put my arms around his neck
hug him tight like this
clap his cheeks and give him what
a great big kiss!

I found this quote that I know my little A does to Daddy M and it made me think of my dad. This is something I could see him saying. "A new father quickly learns that his child invariably comes to the bathroom at precisely the times when he's in there, as if he needed company. The only way for this father to be certain of bathroom privacy is to shave at the gas station." -- Bill Cosby. I hope that for anyone that reads this, it will spark many precious memories of your own with your dad or your own children.

One of the fondest memories I have with my Dad is when I was younger we would have Friday night pizza night with him. That was always our special night. When I was in high school there were days that I missed it.

I remember being very little in Nebraska and having my sister and I hiding on the top part of the bunk bed, while my dad was underneath. He would randomly throw his arm up toward our direction and try to grab us. We'd squeal with delight and would try to escape. We never knew which direction he was coming from, which made it all the more fun.

I remember times not so long ago when my dad and I would go hunting together. It made me feel so special that he would want to share such a precious part of his life with me. Not to mention how 'big' I felt getting up with him at 3 am to traipse through a forest and find a spot to wait. How beautiful it was to watch some of the sunrises I got to see with him-and some of the animals we got to see. They would walk right past us without a care. I can only image how much patience he had to have with me, teaching me how to walk so I wouldn't make much noise or politely whispering back to me when I would talk to him, knowing that most likely I would spook something.

I will never forget seeing my Dad in the temple with me for the first time. I will never forget him being there in the sealing room with my little family. Or the feeling of being with him in the Celestial room.

I miss telling my Dad silly stories and hearing him genuinely laugh. If you ever have a story you want to tell, tell my Dad. He'll listen like its the most important story there could ever be and then he'll laugh, I mean really laugh at the funny parts. Even if you butchered it. :)
My Dad always made sure we knew how much he loved our Mother and his wife and beautiful bride. He would tell us sometimes that, "Your Mom's and my relationship is special. We're made for each other." or often when she would run into the grocery store real fast and run back out, I would look over at my dad. He would always have this grin on his face and say "look how cute your Mother is." I know this may seem silly- but hearing him say stuff like that was so important to me. It made me think of how special and lucky my Mother is and I wanted to find someone that would treat me that way. He adores every little thing she does.

My Dad has always been a goofball. He always knew how to have fun. He always wanted to enjoy life with us. He taught a handful of our sports and I can remember always bragging about my dad being my coach. How blessed am I to have a dad who was so involved in my life. I love my Daddy and I pray that he knows this and knows that I truly look up to him every day. I cannot repeat that enough. I found a quote that I know years and years down the road will ring true to me.

Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes. ~Gloria Naylor

Even as a Mother now of two little boys- I miss my daddy sometimes.

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I Want to Be Just Like You
(Craig and Dean Phillips, copyright Star Song)

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He climbs in my lap for a good night hug

He calls me Dad and I call him Bub

With his faded old pillow and a bear named Pooh

He snuggles up close and says, "I want to be like you"

I tuck him in bed and I kiss him good night

Trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light

And I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see

He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me

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Lord, I want to be just like You

'Cause he wants to be just like me

I want to be a holy example

For his innocent eyes to see

Help me be a living Bible, Lord

That my little boy can read

I want to be just like You

'Cause he wants to be like me
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Got to admit I've got so far to go

Make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know

Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try

With all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right

But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best

Being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness

'Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees

And the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me

Right now from where he stands I may seem mighty tall

But it's only 'cause I'm learning from the best Father of them all

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I love you Daddy.