Happy Birthday Daddy! My Dad's birthday was at the end of June. I didn't get to spend it with him because he left for his assignment as a Mission President on his birthday. But it was fitting because he couldn't have received a greater gift then that. He loves missionary work and going back to Mexico to work with missionaries is his dream. But let me tell you a little about my dad. I learned a lot about him from all the years of watching him, sitting on buckets and talking while he worked on cars, listening to oldies on the way home from stake dances and all the talks on the way home from basketball games(he still is the only one who can make me feel better after a loss in a basketball game.)
My dad is absolutely amazing. He is hard working, generous, kind, devoted to his family and very smart. My dad is the top person in his field and can fix anything. He knows everything about everything. He is so smart, it amazes me every time I am with him.
He is so generous. He is generous with his time, talents, money and possessions. He is almost generous to a fault. He is willing to give anything to anyone to help them out. He gives money, cars, expertise, food, time, labor and the shirt off his back. I think of him every time I hear the hymn "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" because he is that type of person, to help anyone and every one.
Christ is the center of my dad's life. He is a true disciple and has tried to teach me to be the same. He is such a great example of a follower of Christ. I am so proud of him for leaving his life to spread the wonderful message of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. He is steadfast and consistent. He tries to bring everything in life back to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for his constant guiding and teaching of Christ.
Perhaps, the most amazing part of all of this is that even though my dad is so wonderful he is so humble. He has received so many awards and accolades in his career but you would never know. He could run circles around you but he makes you feel smart. He doesn't like it when we brag about him and he doesn't even tell his own family about half of the honors he gets because he is so humble. Luckily my mom tells me or else I would never know!
My dad loves my mom. He treats her like a queen and she treats him like a king. They are such a great example of how a marriage should be. My dad taught me how I should be treated by how he treated my mom. He loves my mom and thinks she is the best and most beautiful woman and never misses a chance to tell me.
All of these things are amazing things about my dad but the thing I love the most about him is he sees the best in me. He is the best dad a girl could ask for. He has always told me I could do anything, I could be anything, like I could be the CEO of any company, be the leader of any country but the most important thing I could do is be a mother. Even though he is so smart he makes me feel smart. He asks for my opinion and asks me what I think about things. He always tells me I am a "deep thinker". He tells me he looks to me for an example. Even though he is the greatest example. I am not really that great but the fact that he sees it in me makes me want to be better. If every girl had a dad like him, no one would have low self esteem, every one would know they are a daughter of God and deserve to be treated as such.
I could go on all day about my dad. We have always been close. My mom use to tease that I had my dad wrapped around my little finger, but that he also had me wrapped around his. I just love to spend time with my dad and I miss him so much, but am so proud of him for serving as a mission president. Happy Birthday dad! I love you.
