My Dad

Today is my dad's birthday. 

I'm not really sure how old he is but I'm pretty sure he doesn't remember either.

I remember when he turned 45, I tried to put 45 candles on his peach cobbler and I set the peach cobbler on fire.

My dad doesn't really like cake, he likes peach cobbler instead. I don't blame him, my grandma's peach cobbler is really yummy.

My dad looks a little scary when you first meet him, but as soon as he smiles he's not scary anymore.

I am the only one of his 6 children to have his blue eyes.

My dad really wants to teach his daughters to be tough and self reliant. 

I remember when I was 12, he took my sister and I backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas. I'm sure we complained a lot about backpacking and about catching our own dinner, but he didn't seem to mind. That is still one of my favorite memories of my dad.

My dad and I have very similar temperaments and as a teenager, I was surprised more then once when he knew exactly how I was feeling. 

I call my dad sir. I'm not sure why but as far back as I remember, I've called him that.

 My dad calls me, little girl. I hope he does forever.

My mother is the social flower of the relationship. My dad doesn't talk much but when he does, you best take care to listen because he usually has something insightful or extremely interesting to say.

 My dad knows a lot about a lot of things. I don't think I've ever asked him a question about something that he hasn't read about or done.

My dad loves to read. He reads all kinds of things. From gardening books to religious books, he reads them all, but his favorite are fantasy/science fiction. I got my love of reading from him.

My dad loves his family way more than anything else. He works hard at a job he doesn't really like so he can take care of his family. 

Last month when I was really sick and couldn't be alone, he drove 12 hours here and 12 hours back just to bring my sister so Stephen could go to school and Will and I wouldn't be alone.

He has also driven all through the night when my sister and I were in labor, just to get my mom here so she could be here for the delivery of our babies.

He loves his grandchildren. I wish we lived closer so we could see them more, hopefully one day.

Will looks almost like a carbon copy of my dad when he was young. I hope Will grows up to be as good of a man as my dad is.

I am the luckiest girl in the world to have such an amazing dad. I only hope that I can be as amazing of a parent to my children.

I love you, Sir!

Happy Birthday!