Happy Father's Day!

One of the couples who was to speak in church today was sick and so with the extra time the Bishop requested that anyone who wanted to share their thoughts about fathers could come up. I was out in the foyer area with Ella and heard the announcement and then it seemed like forever before someone went up to the pulpit and shared a thought. I began to think about what I might say and so I went back in, handed Ella to Scott and got up and shared a few thoughts about Dad. Yesterday when talking with Aunt Beth, Aunt Reva and Aunt Jeanine, Dane and I found out that Dad had been really homesick on his mission. To make a long story short, he wanted to come home and was using different reasons to do so such as saying that Grandma Smith really needed his help with the store because his dad had died, etc. He was eventually transferred to Texas and the rest is history. Dad completed his mission and it's like Aunt Beth said, if you were to ask Dad, the mission made him the man that he is today.

The man that Dad is to me is a person who is wise, stern but in a caring way, thoughtful, a great cook, an incredible planner, funny,endearing, sticks with it and fun. Maybe he didn't develop all these characteristics on his mission but that is who he is to me. Most recently I have been able to see my dad as a grandpa to Ella... and he is amazing. Patient, loving, kind, calm... everything the hyper, touchy, sensitive Ella needs.

Happy Father's Day Dad!