My Father's Day Letter. 6/17/2016

With Father's Day approaching this weekend, I thought I would take this moment to share a little letter to my Dad and to all those Dads out there, specifically those lucky enough to have daughters. It takes a pretty special soul to handle a house filled with women, and I'm lucky enough to have witnessed first hand my special soul that I call Dad. 

Dad,

Living with a house filled with women I'm sure was a bit challenging, but you handled all of those years with pure grace- and a few beers. You were patient and kind, helpful and handy, and most importantly loving. You have gone above and beyond to take care of your girls, and I think it's pretty clear that God hand picked you to be my Dad. 

Thank you for all the times you had to explain to me how to put air in my tires when the tire pressure light came on, even though we both know that to this day, I still don't know how to put air in my tires. Thank you for all the times I called and said that I "may or may not have hit something with my car", where you didn't respond with anger, just a simple, "well, you either did or you didn't."- and let's be honest, I always did. 

Thank you for teaching me that there are in fact two different types of screwdrivers, even though at the age of 28, I still manage to use the wrong one. Thank you for moving me five times in college and then again three times in Austin- because I simply never "loved" where I was living. 

Thank you for making me show animals in the fair, as the memories made in the chicken barn will forever be some of the best memories of my life. And thank you for making me clean up the chicken pen during the week, as now I have some pretty great stories to tell to my city friends.

Thank you for making me drive a 1997 Grand Am (non-working AC and broken windows)car in high school- as I learned to appreciate things a bit more. And thank you for giving in on your rule of "no new car until you're 18", because we both know summer in Texas can be a bit miserable without AC in your car. 

And thank you for these last 32 months of being able to be a caretaker and witness first hand your strength, determination and fight to beat cancer. You never complain, you never stop fighting, and you never stop loving each of us girls. You are my hero, and someone I look up to in so many ways. 

Throughout the years our relationship has been far from perfect, as a teenager I thought I knew it all- but it seems as though the older I get, the smarter you get as well. You've taught me so much in my 28 years, and I pray each day for many more years to come. 

So on this Father's Day, know that you have been one of the best fathers, friends, and supporters to not only me, but to our family. It takes a special soul to be a father to a house filled with women, and I think it's safe to say, a truly special soul you are. 

Happy Fathers Day!

Whitney