Save the best for last

And here I continue with my tributes. Some may find this incredibly corny, but I think it is a nice sentiment to show my appreciation to those I love. We are beginning the Father's Day weekend, as well as the first weekend of the summer, so there is a lot of celebration to be had. I wanted to save the best for last and honor a person who defines fatherhood in my opinion.

Here is to you Father. There are so many things to say that sometimes I think words soil feelings and actions pay a better tribute to emotions. Here is to the fact that you put those actions to words with everything you do. Here is to your dedication and determination to be the very best father you can be and embracing each one of us individually. Here is to your hard work and diligence within the working world, making sure that your family is well cared for. I know you enjoy your job, but I know you enjoy your family more, making work that much easier because you know it is for us. Here is to the love and warmth you show my mom and the honor that I see in your eyes when you look at her. That not only teaches the boys to cherish their wives, but it helped me to know an incredible guy when I found one. I knew I wanted to be cherished just like you cherish mom. Here is to your incredible power washing skills, taking things from old to new in seconds. Here is to your love of food, and though we make fun of you, your appreciation for a good meal is what helps us all enjoy it twice as much. Here is to your patience and your perspective. You have an ability to look past things that dont deserve attention and focus on important things that do, helping those around you to feel your confidence. Here is to your reverance that you have for the gospel, making it seem like you've known this lifestyle your entire life. You are such a great example to me in how important it is to follow your heart and that once you have made up your mind for something you should make your actions follow suit. Here is to your ability to conquer tough roads while maintaining your strength and wisdom. Here is to your beloved analogies, but without them I think we would all worry. They bring clarity to your words to help us visualize and stay with you while you guide us. Here is to your love for cooking, and the enthusiasm that comes with it is incredibly contagious. Between you & I, I share your love for garlic and sweets. Here is to your contemplative brain, making sure that you understand a situation fully before heading in any direction. Here is to your strength and your courage that helps us all push forward. Here is to your need for speed and your love of music, two things that fit nicely together. Here is to your sense of adventure. We all know that you are game for anything and if we can convince you, mom will get on board as well. Here is to the command you hold over a room, and your ability to make everyone feel welcome. Here is to your personable nature, letting each person you converse with feel as if they are the most important. Here is to your laugh when you are really truly laughing. It is something we all love to see on your face. Here is to your love for coziness, and your incredible skiing skills. Here is to the apprecaition you have toward everything in your life, always letting us know how grateful you are for it all. Here is to your big heart and your kindness. I know you would give it all up just to help someone in need. Here is to the lessons on forgiveness that you have taught me, and the fact that you never hold grudges even when I think you have a good reason to. Here is to the respect you show others, and the tender love you have for your parents. Here is to your black and blue shirts, and those adorable swishy jackets that we all make fun of you for. I guarentee, the day you stop wearing them will be the day we all miss them. Here is to you. We have talked a lot about what fatherhood really means, and rather than discuss our opinions, I just have to look at you and get my answer. I cannot express in words my gratitude for you, and the joy I feel when I think of all you have done for me. You never had to do any of it, and yet you did. I am trying to piece together my feelings so that this lays out nicely on paper, but an experience keeps coming to mind that sums up my feelings perfectly. It was only 6 months ago, Christmas Day. I had been trying to calm myself down, and you guys were coming from Grandma's to pick me up for our annual movie. The family was waiting in the car, and you came into the house to get me. You didnt have to, you had honked and I was slowly making my way to the door, trying to clean myself up so that the day wasnt ruined for everyone. I came down the hallway, you came into the front door, and you threw your arms around me. We sat there, me bawling in your arms, and you didnt say a word. Finally you pulled away, told me it would be ok, and we walked to the car. You picked me up, brushed me off, and told me to keep walking. Though that seems like a simple experience, it is one that will always stay with me. It is one that will always define our relationship, because I know you will always pick me up and tell me to keep walking. Words some times dont need to be said, and that hug was exactly what I needed. It told me that you loved me, that you would never let me down, and that you would make sure things worked out. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for always loving me and for accepting me as your own. Thank you for the support and the guidance, and for the great example of what a real man looks like.