D is for Dad

I have joined the A to Z blogging challenge. During the month of April I will write a post each day with the exception of Sundays and these posts will correspond with each letter of the Alphabet. You can join by following the link above.



  I am going to make these posts a mix of things but my hope is that they will all have a common thread... God.

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I had a hard time deciding yesterday what my "D" post would be and honestly, this idea didn't hit me until I was just about to drift off to sleep last night. I've talked about my dad before... told you about how I was Daddy's Little Girl growing up and how we have to make him special food now that he is sick. Today I want to tell you a little more about what makes this man the best Dad... in my opinion.

 

As I get older I remember less and less about things I did when I was a kid... I couldn't sit here and tell you about activities I participated in or about family holidays. However, sometimes a memory will just pop up in my mind and make me smile. One of my favorites being the day my brother, James, was born back in May 1990. I was in Kindergarten and my sister and I were in a school assembly/concert dancing with umbrellas and singing. I remember looking out to the audience and seeing my dad and older brother. Dad kept motioning with his arms trying to tell us that James was born. Try picturing a grown man sitting in the gym of a school swinging his arms around like he is cradling a baby in them and then pointing at my older brother. Being 6 years old I obviously was confused as to how my mom had a baby Buddy (my brother's name). 

 

When I was in first grade I had an accident on my bicycle... I tumbled over the handle bars and landed on my chin. I went to the emergency room and got 5 stitches. My Dad loved to tease me that I couldn't eat soup anymore because it would leak out of the hole in my chin and then he would put the back of his hand up to his chin and wiggle his fingers to make it look like noodles hanging out. This teasing always made me cry but I find it pretty entertaining now. 

 

My mom left us when I was in 4th grade. Their divorce was finalized when I was in 5th grade and my Dad won custody. I remember the struggles he had trying to support 4 children on his own... but he made it work. I remember one Christmas Eve he woke us three older children up and showed us the pile of gifts under the tree. He asked us if it was enough... it was more than enough. My dad was always honest about our situation and he made sure the kids were taken care of first. He was my protector when things went crazy on visitation with Mom and I learned to be the protector during those times when I was older. 

 

He is an amazing encourager. My dad is the reason I went to college... the reason I worked so hard to graduate from High School on time. He taught me values that didn't catch on until I was married and trying to build a life of my own with my husband. 

 

He is one of my best friends... someone I can tell everything to. He calls me Gabby because I talk a lot. But he loves it... and so do I! I am so thankful that God saw fit to bless me with the dad I received.