I feel like I hit the jackpot when it comes to Daddies. I know lots of people who think they have the best Daddy. I know it. My Dad really is awesome. I could use a lot of superlatives to tell you about what kind of man he his. But maybe a few stories will help show it.
Once, when I was a teenager, we had a stake Daddy/Daughter activity. I don't remember what all we did, but there were games and challenges and lots of fun. It was summertime and it was hot and at the end of the activity there was fresh watermelon for everyone. A group of my friends and I were being silly (which happened a LOT in those days) and we decided to get mouthfuls of seeds and run spit them at our Dads who were casually standing around visiting after the days' activities. And its possible that somewhere in our silliness and impatience we realized that collecting mouthfuls of seeds was tedious work, so we decided just to chew up a mouthful of watermelon and spit that at them instead. You'd love to be on the receiving end of our fun, right? :) So that's just what we did. All us cute girls ran up to our unsuspecting dads and blew chewed up watermelon at them. My dad, in true payback form, chased me down and smushed a slice of watermelon all down my back. It was sticky and icky and I deserved it 100%. And it was fun. And that's the kind of man my Dad is. He's someone who will get down and play and have just as much fun doing it as the "kids". Some of you who have known me for years might also remember my dad's attempts at the skating rink, wrestling matches with some of the young men, softball games or the time he tried to do a somersault on the rings on our backyard swingset. Priceless, hilarious memories. My Dad is just fun.
Another time, when I was a teenager, I was away from home. And it was for a long time. And I was homesick. And frankly, I wanted to come home. But I called my Dad and he talked to me, gave me some counsel and read some scriptures to me. And I dug down deep inside and decided to stay. And I had one of the best, most testimony-building experiences of my life, up to that point. And I almost missed it. But talking to my Dad that morning was a turning point. I'm so grateful for his patience and wisdom, that gave me the courage to do something more and be something better. He's just that kind of Dad.
Several years later, I was married with two or three small children and a husband who was out of town. As it happened, the kids got sick and were throwing up, so my laundry went through the roof. And wouldn't you know that right in the middle of a huge load of laundry filled with pukey towels and blankets, the washer decided not to drain. That left me with a broken washer filled with disgusting laundry and a husband who wouldn't be home for several more days. So I did the only thing I could think of to do. I called my Dad. And he dropped everything and came and drove a couple of hours just to fix my washer and drive back home. He not only saved my washer that day. He saved my sanity. Because he's just that kind of Dad. One who will sacrifice time, comfort, food, money, or anything else he might have to help someone out. Especially his kids.
And for those reasons, and a million more, I'm so thankful for my Dad. On Father's Day and every other day. Thank you, Daddy, for being that kind of Dad--the very best kind. :)
