I am one lucky girl. I have a great Dad, and it is a privilege to honor him on Father's Day.My childhood memories are riddled with fond recollections of my Dad: Nights looking through the telescope to view the beautiful Florida sky; Us three kids running out every afternoon to greet him when he came home from work, like he was ROYALTY! Sunday afternoon rides on the back of his motorcycle (bet that's a little known fact!), excursions to various locations delivering precious 'cargo' to their intended destinations. (trying to think of a delicate way to put that, for those of you who know my dad's occupation!). I remember how funny it was that my friends knew I believed that my Dad could do anything (he CAN), and how I tried to not wound my fiance's ego over that issue! I remember what a BIG kick my Dad got over doing his own special Christmas shopping for my Mom every year. And how he tormented her with his clever clues! I remember that I still kissed his cheek before leaving for school every morning, even all through high school. (Once, another student whose relationship with their parents was troubled, saw me do that before I got out of the car. He expressed his amazement at that close of a relationship with your Dad. It broke my heart.)
I also remember the famous Hollingsworth "look of death" that would stop me in my tracks. Sure wish I could adequately emulate that for my kids! I remember the worst spanking I ever got over that hideous Irish Stew, for my dad insisted that we clean our plates at dinner. I remember how HARD he made my poor husband work for his approval. (of course, now Derek says he'll probably be even worse than my dad was! Funny how that works!)
Today, my Dad is still a wonderful father to me; a wonderful father-in-law to Derek, and their relationship is GREAT!; and he is a most excellent Poppa to my kids, and they love him dearly.....
It's so cliche' to say, "My dad has always been there for me." But I don't know any better way to say it, because in my case, it is exceedingly TRUE. Last Father's Day I called my dad and thanked him for the legacy, for I was also remembering my Grandpa who's gone on to Heaven now. He left a godly legacy for his kids and grandkids, and I thanked my dad for doing the same.
As most of you know, our new little guy's name is Reagan Abbott. Reagan for the high esteem in which we hold our 40th president. And ABBOTT, a Hebrew name meaning "father". We chose this in a small way to honor both my Dad and Derek's Dad. We love and honor them both. I am very sad to say that when looking for a picture of just me and my dad together, all I could find was this one of him with me in the operating room after Reagan's birth, along with a few others of him with me in the hospital at one of our many(!) birth occasions! I was so glad to have him there for that important occasion. And he even prayed for the doctor and nurses before they began the c-section. However, I do plan to remedy this problem of lacking pictures tomorrow! Inexcusable!
My Dad is still the "go-to" guy for this whole family. Hard to say how we'd function without him. I'm so glad he's in my life.
I would say that I'm one lucky girl, but perhaps I am just considerably BLESSED...
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I would like to take the time to do something that in a few years my kids will do for themselves. I want to honor my husband as the father of my children. He is a loving, playful, involved father. My children are blessed to have him and they celebrate him like the hero he is. I love you, Babe. Happy Father's Day!
