Ode to Big Dog Daddy!

On this wonderful Father's day weekend I've been thinking a lot about my dad and all the memories I have and the lessons I've learned from him in my lifetime. I'd like to share a few of my very favorite memories.


When I was a little girl, I liked playing outside and I liked being active. We had a pair of roller skates and I really wanted to learn how to use them. It was my dad who taught me how to roller skate. I remember he even took me on a daddy/daughter date to our local skating place called Skate World and skated with me all afternoon. I'm not even sure if he ever knew this but, my second grade crush was there too and well, I hadn't quite got the whole "stopping" technique down yet and I plowed right into him.... I was pretty embarrassed. I loved my skates. I was always outside skating.

I am also very grateful that my dad is a camera man. I recently had a conversation with someone who said how kids these days have their whole lives documented because of facebook and instagram and how there weren't very many pictures from his childhood. I thought, hmmm my whole life is documented on 35mm film. I'm very grateful  that we have pictures from every major event to just the everyday fun that happened growing up. It helps with my memory too. I remember things because I can go back and see the photos. Dad is still always taking pictures of us. I really like that he does that and we have all these wonderful memories to cherish forever. He also used to take videos. Those were always the most embarrassing but, if we didn't have those we wouldn't be able to tease my younger brother about the time he said he was born "in da road" And we wouldn't have the most wonderful family reunion video of all my aunts, uncles and cousins doing and saying the funniest things. Yes family sometimes we still watch those and laugh. ;)  Dad was always behind the scenes capturing life's little moments. Sometimes mom would take a turn though so dad could take a picture with us.

I want to share a very special memory of my dad. I think this tells a lot about who he is as a person. I will remember this and be grateful for this as long as I live.

    When I graduated from hair school, I moved back home for a little bit and got myself a salon job in our local mall at a Mastercuts. The mall was several miles from our house and at the time I didn't have a car. My parents encouraged me to take the job and we could figure out transportation from there. Most of the time I road the bus to and from work. As I got into the swing of working there, my boss started to really like and trust me so she put me on the schedule to close the salon most nights. The mall closed at 9 but, sometimes I would have to be there a little later closing up and doing the register and all that. I can't really remember if the buses just didn't come that late or if we had decided that it was too scary for me to ride the bus home at night. I actually had to take 2 buses home and walk in between bus stops so the too scary option is probably more likely. My dad worked the graveyard shift at his job and his lunch break was around the time I was getting off work, we also only had the one car.  So, when I started working nights, Dad would drive 30 min or more to my work to pick me up, drop me back home and drive the 30 min back to work. I believe this happened a few times a week for the remaining 3-4 months I worked there. This may have seemed like such a simple thing but it spoke volumes to me. I sincerely hope I thanked my dad for this but, if not, I am thanking you now. Thank you for the sacrifices you made so that I could have a job that I loved which lead to a career I love!

  Not being a parent myself, it's hard to fully understand the sacrifices your parents have made for you. I know of a few but, I am sure I can't fully comprehend the times my parents have laid awake at night worried about our well being and wondering how they can more fully help us.

I'm grateful for my dad who loves me more than I can even comprehend. Who will send me text messages like this one which was my favorite, while he was in the priesthood session of general conference a few years back, "President Monson just told the single men to step it up and get married" I loved that! I know my dad loves me and wants the most amazing things for me. I too want those things. I'm thankful for his love and support of my choice to be a hairstylist. I know many girls who don't have support from their fathers and families who don't think doing hair is a good enough career path. Always having that support has been so wonderful for me. Just this past year, I was doing my moms hair while my dad sat with my mom's ipad and helped me design my business cards! I love them and hand them out all the time and you know what dad? It's paying off! I have been one busy lady at the salon! Having that support from you and mom means the world to me!



Dad, thank you for all you have done and will continue to do for me! I love you so much! Thank you for being such a great example of love and sacrifice.

Happy Fathers day!!