For My Dad...

My dad turned 62 this week. My mom is putting together a book of letters to him from us kids. Here is my letter. I love my dad more every day!

Dear Dad,

Happy Birthday! I love you! When mom asked me to write this letter, I was a little bit overwhelmed. To think of my favorite memory of you is almost impossible. I want to start by telling you what a fabulous father you have been. There isn’t a day or week that goes by when I do not think about how lucky I am to have you in my life. Great fathers are sometimes difficult to come by, but somehow we were lucky.
I do not think that it would be possible for me to pick out one favorite memory of you. However, when I think of you, from even the very first memories that I have, I think of service. I remember your hours and hours of service to our family, the church, and absolutely anyone that needed anything. I remember taking food, toys, and money to needy families as a child. I remember going to food banks to donate, even when we had almost nothing. I remember the long, hard hours that you put in to support our family. All of those things have been such a blessing and example in my life today.
One particular memory I have is when we had not lived in our house on Gable for very long. Many of the lots around our house still stood empty, waiting for houses to be built on them. You had just started your business. We were young, and I am pretty sure that most of your checks were going to make the payment on that house. A homeless man knocked on our door begging. You had just gone to Costco, but I did not expect you to give him much, as things were already tight for our family.
I remember being completely surprised when you told him to wait a minute and came back with a huge slab of Costco cheese, a loaf of bread, and a grocery bag packed full of some of the best food that you had just purchased for our family. I will never forget that. Not only did you give to that man, but you gave the best that you had. What an example that will always be to me.
As an adult, I have come to cherish you dad. I have always appreciated the faith that you have in me as a person. Haven’t you ALWAYS pushed me to become the best that I could be? Haven’t you always taught me to set high goals in my education, spirituality, and anything that I wanted to do in life? I remember truly believing that I could aspire ANYTHING in college just because you told me I could. That faith in me, helped me to graduation and successes that came later.
You will never know how much just knowing you are there means to me. I don’t ever worry about you saying “no”. I have really needed that this year. Thank you. Whether it be to sit with me in church, or to sit with the kids so that I can attend some meeting with Warren, you are always there. You are even willing to bring baby Dane home, change his diaper, feed him, and rock him to sleep. Thank you, thank you.
You have been a rock for me as a daughter, and such a great example as a grandfather. The kids adore you. But, I don’t have to tell you that. You can tell. They are always so happy when they know that they get to see you. Thank you for supporting them in everything that they do from sports, to church, to school. They know that you love them.
Lastly, I want to you to know how much I appreciate your example in our home as a righteous Priesthood holder. This has been a gift that you can never fully understand. Thank you for attending the temple, reading scriptures, praying earnestly, and most of all loving your children unconditionally. These things have changed my life. I love you so much dad!

With love…monica