Daddy

This morning, as I took care of my children, giving them bottles and changing their diapers, I found myself remembering Daddy. I wanted to write this post before I got too busy today with trying to get an apartment, clean my current apartment and take care of my husband and children. I wanted to share some memories of Daddy that I have and cherish. They're fairly simple memories and one of them is illustrated by a picture that I have of him on (I think) my 15th birthday. He's standing in front of me with that silly grin on his face as he presents me with my present. His absolute joy in giving gifts, whether they were birthday, Christmas, or random anonymous ones, is what contributes to my love of those kinds of occasions. He was so good at filling the house with joy and making me feel like the most special kid in the world. I want to be able to do that for my children.

Another memory I have is of walks around the neighborhood with him. The most precious one of those types of memories that I have is one that took place in my sophmore year of college. I was home for the weekend and he and I hadn't really had a chance to just talk yet, so he asked me if I would go for a walk with him. As we walked around our little neighborhood, he asked me all sorts of questions, trying to get a feel of how I was doing in school, church and life. He had his full attention fixed on me and I knew he just wanted to make sure that I knew he loved me, that he cared about how I was doing and that he was thinking about me.

I miss him so much and I constantly wish that he was still around to give me advice on how to raise my children, to play with them and let them know he loves them just as much. But I am so grateful for the Gospel and the knowledge it gives us that we will see him again, that my children will know him. I love you, Daddy. I can't wait to see you again.