My dad, what a man.

Long hours, working weekends, last into bed, the first one up. My dad. What a man.

Now that I have kids and am in that young married stage of life where money doesn't grow on trees, beans are cheap so we eat them and we love to buy second hand, I am beginning to understand things about my parents that I was completely oblivious to before. I'm learning that my dad loved me so much, he would work all week, paint houses all weekend, rest only on Sunday and do it all again just so that he could give me the greatest gift in life- my mom at home. Dad, I want to you to know, your sacrifice to make that possible, was worth it.

My dad. What a man. It's really kind of easy to see how he is the way he is, because of the kind of man that his dad was. A godly, loving, hardworking man. As time took it's toll on my papaw, robbed him of his memory, took him from us in the cruelest way possible, my dad cared for his father in the most tender and loving way. My dad, along with his brother and sisters, couldn't have honored their father more than by their loving actions in their care of him. Even when he didn't know who they were, he never went to bed without one of them tucking him in and praying by his bed. What a man.

My dad. What a man. Taught me everything I know about driving a stick. Which is nothing. Because we only went out that one time and it only lasted about 2 minutes. I did not burn up the clutch, by the way, I didn't have enough time to. Thank you.

My dad. What a man. When my brothers were mean to me, he would hold them for me so I could punch them. Lucky for them, I always felt bad and didn't. What a lost opportunity.

Dad, you might not remember this, but one time we went on a date to the Hickory House and then we went to the dollar store and you bought me a gold necklace with a yellow heart and a trapper keeper with a butterfly. That memory is seared in my mind, our first date.

I couldn't even look at you on my wedding day when you walked me down the isle. One hint of tears from you and I would have been lost forever. Thanks for a wonderful wedding, it was every dream come true.

When we played baseball with you as little kids, even though I couldn't hit the ball (that could have been me or, it might have been because you had your lefty batting righty...just sayin) thanks for letting me still try. I loved every minute of being one of the guys with you and the boys. (Remember wrestling on the bed with me and the boys on that one Sunday morning when I bit your leg? Well, I'll never forget it, thats for sure. And I'll never bite anyone's leg ever again either.)

A man to look up to, a man to be proud of, a man to be honored. Thats my dad.

You did a good job, Dad, because you showed me the kind of man I wanted to marry. I found him, Dad. Even though you didn't like him too much at first, because you knew he was THE ONE probably, you let me follow my heart. And it led me to a man who is a lot like you.  Long hours, working weekends, last into bed, the first one up- thats Kaylen's dad. Her dad. What a man.