ahora

Today, I'm celebrating Father's Day lots of miles away from my dad - he's in Michigan, I'm currently on vacation at Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast with Kent's family. I don't have my own computer or otherwise I'd put up a picture of the two of us (I guess I'll have to do that once I'm back home).

Dad, I love you and miss you. I am thankful for your love and sacrifice, your patience, your great big bear hugs, your laughter and smiles, your willingness to help...among other things.

Here are some great memories I have that I will always cherish:
- going sledding on The Big Hill ("New record!")
- the countless drives from GR to up north and the games we'd play and the songs we'd sing in the car to pass the time
- dad teaching me how to "get in front of the ball" for middle school softball and to throw hard and catch well, whether it was a pop fly or a faster-than-lightening throw from him that stung my hand if I caught it wrong
- going tubing and dad whipping me and Sara around the lake - especially at the end of each round when he'd drive the boat in 5+ circles to get the waves HUGE and then gun it to try to get us to fall off (a.k.a. flail off in the air).
- camping at Brower Park, playing frisbee and going fishing (especially the time when I caught way more fish than dad...and the only one he caught was a small fish that died after he tried to release it back into the lake :)
- going waterskiing together on dad's trick skis when I was about 3 - I stood in front of him on top of the skis
- going through walks in the woods to look for leaves and bugs for my 6th grade leaf and bug collections and learning about the different species along the way
- 4-wheeling
- walking the ~2 miles (give or take a bit) to the River...running and jumping off the edge of the sand dune...having rock-throwing contests to see who would be the first to throw a rock to the other side of the river
- playing our instruments (me, dad, Sonny, Mike and Chad) for special music in church
- eating out at The First Wok for Father-Daughter nights
- dad's trumpet descant during the last verse of "When Peace Like a River" at the part when it says "The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend..." - it gives me chills every single time, never fail
- eating ice cream each night before we'd go to bed...a tradition I've kept going pretty faithfully :)

There are so many more special memories I have with my dad while growing up, but it would take quite a bit more space.... Dad, thank you for the love you have given me, Chad and Sonny throughout the years and the ways in which you have been there for us. Thank you for the memories that will forever make me smile, laugh and be grateful for you.

I hope you have a great Father's Day and know how much you are loved and missed. I can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks!

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 11:25 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.