Happy Birthday Paps!

This year for my Dad’s Birthday (on March 20th) we surprised him by taking him ziplining in Wimberly.  It is Texas longest zipline and it was so peaceful and gorgeous out there! 

Okay, I could write a novel on my Dad, but I’ll try to consolidate my birthday wishes!  I wish that we were as a culture more open to say the things that we love about the people that we love while they are around to read it. So I encourage my little handful of readers to do the same for a loved one on their next birthday!  (Okay, dad totally not hinting that you are “old” by any means, you’ll “be around” God willing many many more years! And I know you are super humble but just wouldn’t be right never to say all the wonderful things you are as a dad) So here’s to MY Dad and many more birthdays to come!

I RESPECT my dad.  This respect I have for him is because of the amazing Godly man he is.  He is wise, loving, honest, and selfless, just a few among the many reasons why it is so easy to respect him.

I see the security that he has in his identity in the Christ. When I go through the fruits of the spirit I see each one so strongly in my dad’s life. He is truly a Godly man full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control, gentleness, and faithfulness.

He has always been an amazing provider, not only for our needs and far beyond but for my mom and I on an emotional level too.  I have never felt short of love for one second.

He has lived out what it means to obey God. 

He has a servant’s heart. I’ve watched him serve others my whole life…from being the first one at church and last one to leave for years when ushering on Sunday mornings, to helping someone in need, and getting up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays to serve.  When there is hard work to be done my dad is there to help, with a smile and humble heart. 

I love that he loves my mom and treats her with respect.  One thing that is true of my dad is that he is even sweeter behind closed doors.  He is self-control, even tempered and has a gentle spirit. Never once did he yell in our household.

He always stayed on top of my discipline along side my mom. Of course at the time I was not for it but now I am so thankful.

He is humble. I’ve seen him be hugely successful in areas of his life and never once witnessed  him be prideful or heard him boast in himself.

He is Strong, not just talking about those biceps! (which all jokes aside, he is super in shape) But I’ve watched him navigate through life with God’s strength and a confidence that comes from walking with the Lord.

My dad provided a place of security growing up.  Every night without fail I would go in to hug him goodnight and he would be in his room reading his Bible.  There is no better feeling as a child than to feel this comfort.  Then get ready to be embarrassed parents, I would hear them tell each other ‘I love you’ EVERY night without fail before they would fall asleep and hear one big smack-a-roo from across the hall! To know that my dad loved God and LOVED my mom, just so meaningful to my kid-self.  I used to love lying in bed each night before I drifted to sleep, it felt so peaceful and that is why.

He has integrity. 

He is forgiving.  I’ve watched my dad be a peacemaker and reach out in forgiveness.

He turns to God prayerfully when making decisions.

He gave me every opportunity I could have dreamed of.  I got to experience so many different cultures on trips abroad and my dad and mom made sure we had many family trips exploring our beautiful country.

My dad provided what we needed and SO much more.  From my first diaper to my education.

He “let go” at the appropriate time. Both he and my mom encouraged me to explore life and go anywhere I wanted to for college, that’s how I ended up in Texas! Now as a parent I can see how hard that must have been.  Little did I know when I left for Baylor that my mom and dad would uproot 30 years of their life and his career and follow me to Texas years later because I so desperately wanted them to be here!

My dad had a way of making my friends feel welcome in our home. All my friends always talked about how kind he was and wanted to come to my house to see my parents! That made me feel so proud.  

He is passionate about what is right.  Never will you hear a coarse joke or anything come out of my dad’s mouth that would belittle someone else.  His words are full of kindness and are not self-serving.

My dad joined in my interests as a teenager.   One example that sticks out in my mind is after a hard year for me (16 years old) we spent the summer rollerblading together almost every evening.  He would come home from work, probably tired but you wouldn’t have known it and put on his rollerblades and off we went.  Interesting to look back and see that was the summer that seemed to get my teenage life back on track.

He was the dad that never missed a band concert, a play, a church musical- I’m serious not a ONE, K-12!  He was even one of my soccer coaches in second grade.

He made it a point along with my mom to make sure I was able to go on mission trips as a teenager so I would know the joy first hand of serving others in great need.

He dedicated his weekends to family time when I was growing up.  I honestly thought my dad’s favorite thing to do was to play board games with my mom and I, or go on family bike rides because that is what we did! He must have done it so joyfully that I just thought that’s what he liked to do above all else with his spare time. And when he did get an opportunity to fish, guess who was there the majority of the fishing trips, ME!   He had to re-bait my hook every other minute and each time he got a fish on his line he passed it to me to reel in.

He is hard-working and confident.

He has always been so successful in his pursuits.  Whether it be a successful career or his dedication to health (my dad still alternates going 5 miles or lifting weights every morning as part of his routine) I am amazed. 

He loves others. My dad helped take care of my mom’s parents.  My precious Mammaw and Pappaw lived with us for most of my childhood.  I saw my dad LOVE them and provide for them.  On a smaller scale he is so kind to people he encounters even only once.  He will not forget a name and is more interested in seeing how the other person is doing and hearing about their interests. He has a special way of making other people feel important.

He is so loving towards Greg, Ava and Austin.  He takes the kids on walks, has tickle matches, and plays with those kiddos.  He has been super supportive in my marriage in that once we said “I do” he entrusted Greg to take care of me from there and has shown nothing but respect and love.

He is easy-going.

He is wise.  My dad is quick to listen,  and always has Godly advice. I have trusted him from when I was a little girl to the adult I am now. 

I’ve observed that he does not approach life with a sense of entitlement but with thankfulness.

He does not talk negatively about others or judge others.

He was so helpful in our home.  He was always asking my mom “what can I do to help.”  Especially for big dinners or when hosting you will find him in the kitchen helping my mom prepare food and then doing dirty dishes.

He is as chivalrous as they come.  I don’t think my mom and I opened one door before he could get to it. And every Sunday morning he was sure to tell my mom and I that we looked nice all done up in our church dresses! I remember one day in 8th grade it was pouring down rain and he went to work late so I didn’t have to take the bus and risk getting my hair wet!  He drove me to school and walked me in umbrella and all.

I’ve experienced my dad happily spoiling  my mom and I through the years (of course at our reluctance- wink wink, ha!)  but when it comes to spending money on himself he is as resourceful as they come.   He is not materialistic.

He taught me by example along with words.  It was never a “do as I say not as I do” but “do as I do” because he lives in such an honorable way. Now as a parent I know how difficult this can be and admire it all the more.

SO, Happy Birthday Dad I LOVE you!!

(P.S. I can’t wait until July 1st – my mom’s birthday, or maybe I’ll just have to do mother’s day post, I don’t know if I can wait that long!- Along side my wonderful dad has been the most amazing, supportive, encouraging, and loving wife and mother!)

 

Ava: “ Happy BirF-day to you, Happy BirF-day to you, Happy BirFFF-Day dear Paaaaaaps, Happy BirF-Day to you!!!”

I made Dad a dark chocolate raspberry filled cake, super rich, stomach aches here we come!