Tomorrow

Father's Day is tomorrow.

I have an amazing Heavenly Father.  

My God has neither left me not forsook (that's a word, right?) me.  Every beautiful instant through every hardship He has been right there holding me and leading the way.
He has given me a husband I cherish, a daughter I love and miss mightily, a family and a group of friends who have stood by me, and a mom who has been a rock and a source of encouragement.

I also have a dad who did all of the things a fantastic and caring dad should do. Daily. 

I can't count the number of sweet memories of moments with my daddy that I have floating around inside my head.  Starting way back in my childhood, moving through those ghastly middle school years, into high school and college, and now as I tip-toe my way through adulthood.

He
~ gave the best piggy-back rides to breakfast in the mornings.

~ tucked me into bed every night.  On especially cold evenings, he'd bundle up under my covers and warm up the bed for me while I took my bath and got ready for lights-out.

~ went to every football game, band or choir concert, and recital I was ever a part of.

~ told me I looked pretty in every new outfit my mom and I came home with.  Even when the "outfits" were hideous, ridiculous, or too short.  To this day, my mom will still say, "Did you show Daddy what you got?" and of course I'll have to try it on for him to see.  And, of course, he still says I look pretty.  :)

~ would play great songs from the dark ages whoops! 50s and 60s on the record player in the living room.  I don't know how he ever got any work done as I danced and sang along (LOUDLY) to "Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie, Weenie, Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini"and "Earth Angel" and "Oh What a Night" and "Sixteen Candles" and "Catch a Falling Star" and every Beach Boys or Elvis song that came on.  I could go on and on and on with the list of Golden Oldies songs he taught me to love.  I was also so thrilled that he taught me how to play records and to do it without scratching them. I soon learned that I could play those songs even when no one else was around.

~ walked me down the aisle and danced with me at the reception.

~ sat by my side after we lost Hadley.  His presence and his hand on my arm meant more than any words he could have said.

There are so many more snapshots of memories I could type up, but it still wouldn't do him justice.

I am thankful that my Heavenly Father provided me with such a fantastic earthly father.  My dad is a great dad, and I am blessed beyond measure to have had him present and active in my life every step of the way.  No, he's not perfect, but I don't see the mistakes when I see him.  I see a daddy who loves his wife and daughters.  A daddy who has done his utmost to support them and provide for them in whatever ways he could.  Thank you, Daddy!  I love you!

The Husband and I had lunch with my parents and my sister a few days ago when they came to town.  We took a few pictures after eating yummy Mexican food.

I should have taken a picture of the green sauce.  The Husband liked it so much that he asked the waitress to put some in a container to take home with us.  Yeah.  So, for the next few days, he had tortilla chips and green sauce for snacks daily.  Yeah, the lack of nutritional content of that snack has not slipped me by.  I can just see the author of The Trinity Diet cringing now, haha!

I cannot fail to mention that The Husband is a daddy, as well.  

He loves our Hadley oh-so-much, and I know that if she were here with us right now, he would be doting on her and loving on her and cherishing her just as much as my dad has done with my sister and me.  I believe (and Readers, I have to keep making myself say those words, "I believe," because satan keeps butting his head in and throwing doubt-bombs at me left and right) that one day he will get that chance, and I can't wait to see him step into that role.  He will make mistakes, but he won't be known for them.  He will be known for how much he loves and supports and provides for those lives that depend on him and love him fiercely.

It will be beautiful.