Things I've learned from My Dad

I've been sitting here for I don't know how long thinking about what I'm going to write about today. The answer was pretty simple.... Today is Father's Day and I have been thinking about all of the things that I have learned from my Dad. Same disclaimer as Mother's Day - - my Dad has no knowledge I'm going this and he did not put me up to it. =) Here goes:

• "Isn't being a grown-up fun??" - - while most of the time, when he asks this, my answer is "no," it's nice to know that if/when something comes up that's unexpected, Dad's answer will be a constant =)
• No matter how old I get, there is still a spot for me on my Dad's lap
• Even after all of these years, my Dad still knows how to tickle me with his beard =)
• Even though the 'boo-boos' I get these days can't be covered with a band-aid, even getting a "phone hug" from my Dad can melt my heart and make me feel better
• I have learned that I still need to hear my Dad say that he loves me and that he's proud of me/my accomplishments
• I still love to hear my Dad's pet names that he used for me as I was growing up
• With patience, Dad taught me how to drive a stick shift and that has been very useful throughout the years
• Dad taught me that it was important for a girl to know how to check the oil on the car as well as fill the windshield wiper fluid
• Dad also thought it was important for me to know how to safely use different kinds of tools - - you never know when you might need them for your own home improvement project (according to my Dad, you can never have enough tools)
• Dad taught me that it's okay to be serious about the serious things as well as have fun with the fun things - - that it's also okay to take time for yourself if things get too overwhelming
• That, when all else fails, God is always there
• That even if we can't be together, Dad is there for me in spirit and is just a phone call away
• While although he won't come right out and tell me what to do, he'll listen to what I have to say and may offer a different perspective

These are just some of the things that I have learned from my Dad throughout the years. This is in no way everything that I have learned.... I have learned so much from both of my parents and am very lucky to have the parents that I do. My parents encouraged my sister, two brothers and I to be independent thinkers and to stand firm in our beliefs. I would say that even if my siblings and I have stumbled along the way, we have remembered the teachings from our childhood and we are the adults we are today because of Mom and Dad (it helps that Mom and Dad are still there to help us up along the way as well).

Growing up, my Dad had to travel quite extensively for his job and I think that's what made his "home time" even more special. No matter how long his day was, he made time for each of us kids to make us feel loved every single day (both Mom and Dad did). Dad, thank you for all of the things that you taught me growing up and for the things that you still teach me. Thank you for always being there for us (even if it was just in spirit because you were working) and for being one of my number one supporters. I love you Dad and I'm sending you a big Internet hug. (But I won't tell anyone...... oh, wait..... I already did.....) =)