My Dad

Happy Father’s Day everybody! Being in Oklahoma, I’ve been missing my dad something fierce today.  I’ve been thinking about what an incredible dad he is and how I have got to be one of the four luckiest girls in the world to have scored a dad like mine. 

My dad and I have always had a pretty incredible relationship.  He has worked so hard to form relationships with each of his daughters. Good relationships.  Lasting relationships.  I am so grateful everyday that he chose to cultivate my relationship with him, because I wouldn’t be the person that I am today without him.

When I was really little (think four years old), I had a nightmare that my dad was killed in a car accident.  It was my very first nightmare and I still remember it vividly to this day.  Luckily for me, my dad wasn’t in a car accident, but I have tried my best to never take him for granted since then.  So, in honor of this great day, I want to list some of my favorite things about my dad, things he has done, and advice he has given me.

-When my sister Riley and I were little, he would tell us bedtime stories about “Dottie the Laser Pointer.”  They were always the best stories and we loved having that be the last thing we did before going to bed.

-When we were brushing our teeth, my dad would dance while we were brushing and then freeze as soon as we stopped.  It was such a fun game, and quite a brilliant strategy on his part.

-One Saturday morning, my dad told me that it was time to get ready.  He told me I should comb my hair, brush my teeth, and wash my face.  I skipped the washing my face part.  Not too many years later, and still now even, I have dealt with awful acne.  Touché Dad, touché.

-We went geocaching with my dad many Saturdays.  We loved using his GPS to pinpoint the locations and then see what treasures were in the box.  Seriously – it was the best.

-My Dad ingrained in me a healthy love for all things Science Fiction.  Seriously, whenever we go to the video store or the library, I always check out the science fiction first.

-When I was in high school, I would come home everyday for lunch.  Dad and I would eat frozen burritos (or whatever we could find in the freezer) and watch one of our Sci-Fi shows in the basement.  I loved that time with him!

-Whether I was into dance, soccer, running, etc., my dad was always there, becoming an expert on the chosen sport and attending just about all of my performances/games.  He even drove all the way to Idaho Falls, stayed in a hotel, and then drove me home after a cross-country meet so that I could attend the meet and still attend the homecoming dance that evening.  World’s coolest dad right there.

-When I moved to BYU, he bought season tickets to the BYU football games.  We would always meet before the games and get something to eat.  During a time when I missed my family more than anything, I lived for those games when I got to see him again!

-When Geoff and I decided to get married, I couldn’t bring myself to tell my dad right away.  Not because I was scared of his reaction, but I couldn’t bring myself to accept that I wouldn’t be his little girl anymore.

-He was the third person that I told when I found out I was pregnant.  He was also the most excited!  Through my entire pregnancy, he was always checking in on me, sending me fun pictures, giving me texts of encouragement, and always telling me how excited he was for me.  What he doesn’t know, is that those texts, pictures, and conversations made me the most excited to be a mom!  They got me through a difficult summer and I could always count on him to be excited about my ultrasounds, doctor’s appointments, etc.

-My dad a person that I know I can talk to about anything.  Whether it be exciting things (like having a baby, moving to a new place, etc.) or difficult things (like breaking up with my boyfriends, being completely out of money, etc.)  He has always been there for me and I know that he will always be there for me.

I have so many more experiences, advice, etc. that I could share.  But really, what I really want my dad to know is that I love him so much, I am so lucky to be his daughter, and I can’t wait to see him again (in 10 days!).