New Year, Same Fight

Today I am so thankful to my dad for fighting so hard against pancreatic cancer. He has fought since his diagnosis in October 2011 and made it so much longer than most pancreatic cancer patients ever do. For this, I am so grateful because we have had the gift of time with him. While I know now that Dad's time is limited (I still have a hard time saying and writing the words, "dying"), I am so thankful for the time we've had with him since October 2011. There have been a lot more "I love you's", a lot more hugs and a lot more just being together as a family. So, as the New Year approaches, I am thankful for the gift of time together that so many people do not get with this horrible disease. Love you, Dad.

Thanks for our Family Dog

One day, many years ago, my dad and I were going to head to the humane society and adopt a collie that they had advertised. I was so excited to get a new dog to add to our family and so happy Dad asked me to come with him, we are both big dog lovers. Of course, because I was in like 7th or 8th grade, I could not leave the house until I had curled my girl-mullet and put on make up (that I was finally allowed to wear), so we left the house much later than anticipated. 

Dad waited patiently (I think) and by the time we made it to the humane society, the collie dog was already adopted. Luckily for me, I have a dad who wanted another dog as much as I did, so we ended up bringing home Sam, a sheltie-mutt dog who quickly became one of the best dogs we ever had. Today I am thankful for a dad who didn't lose his mind while waiting for his newly teen daughter to get dressed, fully apply her makeup and do her hair all to get ready to go to the pound, because we ended up with the perfect dog for our family

Thanks For the Gift of Memories

Today I am thankful to have a dad who created memories with my boys, not by buying them things, but by taking them fishing, patiently helping them put worms on a hook, or taking Max to golf lessons and out to lunch, going to as many baseball games as possible, a grandpa who made them things that they can keep forever and someday will look at and say, "My Grandpa Jim made that for me when I was little." I realize that at ages 8 and 10, they don't quite realize how lucky they are to have a grandpa who does things like this for them and with them, and I know that I will make sure those memories are not stored away in my boys' minds, but always fresh, because not everyone is as lucky as they are

Thanks for How I Was Raised

Today I am thankful for having a dad who I grew up respecting. My biggest fear in life was causing him disappointment because I respected him so much. I never wanted to let him down and when I did, the disappointment I had in myself was pretty huge. I am lucky that I had a dad who would tell me he was disappointed in what I had done and then explain why, but I'm also lucky that I was raised in a way that disappointing your father was all it took to turn around a behavior

Thankful to Dad- Lay Pastor

This Christmas Eve, I am thankful to my dad for following his faith and his heart a few years ago when he decided he wanted to minister somehow to others.  Dad took lay ministry courses and became a lay pastor.  He now pastor's at a local Methodist church and I can't tell you how proud I am of him.  Tonight I will proudly watch and listen (as I always do) to my dad give the Christmas Eve message at his church.  There is no other place I would want to be this Christmas Eve, then listening to my dad tell the story of Christmas.  The memories from tonight will be something I will carry with me forever.

Thanks to Dad for My Brother

Today I am thankful to my dad for marrying my mom and giving me this guy as a big brother.  Growing up, my brother drove me crazy and I honestly could never picture that we would ever really get along.  Today, he's one of the best people I know and besides being my brother, he's my friend.  I don't say it enough but I consider myself incredibly lucky to have him as a brother.  On top of all of this, I have to say thanks to my dad for this picture, because as I was reliving memories and going through old pictures looking for a picture of Paul, I came across this never before seen gem, that evidently one day about 41-years ago, my mom thought her son would look outstandingly stylish in this ensemble and put it on him, white baby belt and all.    I.just.can't.handle.it. 

Thanks to Dad For Christmas

Today I am thankful to my dad for coming every Christmas morning to watch my boys unwrap their presents.  Each year, at the crack of dawn (like 6:00AM) Dad and Mom will drive to my house and watch my boys open their gifts.  I don't think my boys realize what a blessing this is, but someday, when they look back at pictures and see their Grandpa Jim in the background of these pictures year after year, they will realize just how special it was that Grandpa got to be there for 10 and 8 Christmases respectively.