Tribute: Where Would I Be?

            My childhood has been, in a word, ideal. I have been so very blessed to have siblings who are thoughtful and kind (every now and then :D), a beautiful home, always enough to eat (and then some- thanks Mom), plenty of critters to satisfy me, and wonderful parents who are more supportive and loving than I dare deserve.

            Today is my Daddy’s birthday. Where would I be without his guiding influence? Where would I be without his example? Where would I be if I hadn’t been “forced” to pick rocks and top corn during the summers? Where would I be without someone to get dragged around by my too-big steer? Where would I be without someone asking after every meal, “What’s for desert”? Where would I be without someone to share half a pie? (Most likely 15 lbs lighter, but that’s not the point). Where would I be without someone to tell me to stop being a wuss and to just face fears? Surely, I would not be where I am today without my daddy.

• I was never the perfect child, but I was always given whatever I needed by my daddy.
• He was the one who got me interested in my future career, agronomy, and encouraged me to do what inspires me. 

 

• He's my ultimate example of honesty
• He always has time to listen to a selfish complaint or whine, and then promptly

     a)      Tell me to get over it and move on
     b)      Tell me to fix the problem 
     c)      Fix the problem for me without me even asking

• He was the guy who got me my best friend- My Boy (the dog)
• He’s the guy who taught me to play nice, but definitely try really hard to win whatever you do,
• He’s the guy who taught me to love the scriptures, and to obey their teachings. And then taught me to love the gospel and the Savior.
• He taught me his love of animals, and to care for them.
• He’s the guy who taught me late into the nights how algebra is supposed to work (even if it only sometimes made it through my thick skull)
• He’s the guy, who taught me to be 100% in all that I do, and in my commitments
• He's the guy who taught me that it is okay to wake up early in the morning to do things. (You actually DO get more things done in the mornings! Who would have thought? Besides, you can just take a little [still working on the ‘little’ part] nap in the afternoon when deserved.)
• He taught me some of the very best music known to human kind (the 70s are strangely full of great songs... )
• He taught me that old guys were once young guys, and those young guys could be cool. (Especially while playing basketball with a fro).
• He taught me how to give selfless service and to find people who are in need
• He taught me how to manage my money wisely.
• He taught me to love learning and to do my best while in school. 

All in all this guy has seriously been a major influence for good in my life and I have appreciated his love and his wisdom throughout my life, even if I wasn’t as grateful as I should have been at the time. Thanks for all you do for me.   
        I LOVE YOU and Happy Birthday!