My Two Fathers:

For those reading this that don't really know me, I'd like to tell you about my 2 Fathers. They have loved me before I was even born and are 2 of the greatest influences in my life.

They are my Heavenly Father and my Earthly Father.

My Heavenly Father of course gave me life and chose what family I should belong to. He did a great job! I can always turn to Him. In fact, He likes for me to check in with Him quite often.

He does things for me and my family that I don't even know! He's that good! He knows what I need before I do. He loves me unconditionally. I give thanks to Him for everything in my life, the good and the bad, because it has made me who I am.

And, I give thanks to Him every day for my Dad!

My Earthly Father, my Dad. He's the best I could ever ask for. He would have loved to have a son, but he got 2 girls. Oh, he never complained. My sister was happy to learn to work on cars. I was his fishing buddy (I've since given it up, I don't eat it so it doesn't seem right). He gave up hunting after my many lectures on Bambi and Thumper such, but he took up skeet shooting and that turned out to be more fun for the 2 of us anyway. I also have a love of power tools and coins because of him. We've made things from the most awesome mouse maze (for my animal behavior class), to fish stands for my aquariums to my cabinet in my dining room....and so much more.

He taught me about the importance of religion and family and values and morals. But he taught me most of this, not in his words, but in his actions. He doesn't just walk the walk, he talks the talk. Neither of my parents smoke, drink or curse. My childhood was Beaver Cleaver-esque. I've seen the way he treats people around him with respect. He does things for them without them having to ask. I saw him pay for an elderly woman's groceries when we were waiting in line, because she didn't have enough money. She didn't ask him to, he just thought to do it. When we were out at a restaurant eating one day, he saw a homeless man sitting outside and gave him money. The man thanked him but said someone had just bought him a meal. So my dad told him to keep the money for the next one. One thing he has always had to do as head of our family is bury my beloved pets. We would have funerals in the backyard and he would say nice things about them and say a prayer. That always meant more to me than he will ever know. I could keep going....I'm so proud of him!

We don't always see eye to eye on things. We are so much alike we can butt heads at times, you see, we don't THINK the same, but we ACT the same. Every time I hear the U2 song "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own", the following words remind me of my Dad:

We fight all the time

You and I...that's alright

We're the same soul

I don't need...I don't need to hear you say

That if we weren't so alike

You'd like me a whole lot more

We don't fight all the time, but when we do argue, it doesn't matter...

I know he loves me and I love him.

He is the only "father figure" Zander knows....and Zander ADORES him! They are partners in crime and Grandpa is loving every minute of it.

I love my Dad!!!

This picture has become one of my favorite pictures of Grandpa and his little buddy! This was taken last year when Z was about 7 months old.