happiest of days

Today may be the most wonderful day in all of January... the day my dad was born. He is the most wonderful father I could have been blessed with. He is in every memory I have that is most important - and sometimes I wonder if him being in those memories is the very thing that makes them so special. 

For pushing me around the house in a shoebox, letting me ride on his shoulder everywhere we went, cutting apples in that special way with his pocket knife that make them spiral or fit together like a puzzle - for these things I’m so grateful. For shutting his car door each morning to go to work then waiting in the driveway for me to come running out in my pajamas to give him a goodbye kiss, for making up songs for me on his guitar and letting me strum, for wheelbarrow rides in the early morning, and never making me feel as if I were too little to help - I am so grateful. For teaching me to not be afraid of bugs and to love thunderstorms, for making wassil with me every christmas, for teaching me that every person has value and is worth loving - I am so grateful. 

For giving me the happiest childhood in the world by pouring his time and talents and love into my family, for loving my mom with all his heart and loving me enough to teach me that a father is someone to trust, adore and be respected - not merely because because of his position, but because of his character - for this I am so grateful. For teaching me simply by his life, that if my dad loves me this much, how much more my heavenly father must love me; that if I can trust my father with all my heart, how much more I can trust my heavenly father with all my life. 

I love you dad. Happy Birthday!!!