I love you so much. I wanted to write you this note to share
just how much I love you, how much you mean to me and how thankful I am for
everything you’ve been for me and our family. I am so blessed to have you as a
father, Brad is so grateful to have you as a father-in-law, and Carter is one
lucky kid to have such a great papa.
As I sit here writing this, I’m reflecting on so many
memories from the past 30 years. Some simple, some humorous, some life
changing, but all so special. I remember sitting on your lap “driving” the
tractor around the hay alley, taking off your hat after a long day of work to
comb and do your hair with bows and clips, and staying up late doing puzzles. I
loved going to the bowling alley with you when we were off school on your
league days or riding in your truck when you did your “Whoa big fella” trick with
the gas pedal. I have so many amazing memories from family vacations and so
many stories I will tell and laugh about for years to come. Every event whether
big or small was special because we always had so much fun as a family – and
most of that was due to you and your good attitude, great sense of humor and
cool nature.
I cannot even begin to express all the ways you have
impacted me and everyone around you. You are honest, trustworthy, generous,
loving, wise, hardworking, and kind. You’ve modeled those traits for me every
day. Your quiet commitment to your faith is maybe one of the most impactful ways
you raised me. The way you showed it through your dedicated church
participation, the daily prayer and devotions you led around the table, and your
commitment to Christian education for all of us girls spoke volumes. I watched
as you made the right decisions even if they weren’t the most profitable or
popular. I learned from the way you treated people with kindness and respect. I
never questioned the fact that all these actions were an extension of your love
for God and your desire to live your life in service to Him. Thank you for
giving me that structure to build my own faith upon.
Dad, you gave us everything you had. You spent your entire
life working as hard as anyone could to make sure we had a beautiful home, a
great education, and anything else we needed or wanted. But with as hard as you
worked, that never stopped you from spending time with us. You never missed a
game, recital, play, performance, graduation or event. You spent hours in the
back yard teaching me to throw a change up or shoot a free throw. You cheered
me on through endless baton routines or choir concerts. Your presence and
support made me feel so loved and encouraged.
I am one grateful and lucky daughter. And I know my sisters
feel the same way. We are loved and we have felt that way every single day of
our lives. Thank you for making us feel safe, secure, and valued. I hope you
know that we love you just as much. I am so grateful for every year I got to
spend with you. I wish there were more and I really wish that there was time
for Carter to get to know his papa. But he will hear stories for years to come.
And we will spend our lives trying to pass on the lessons you have taught us –
how to work hard, how to live out your beliefs and values, how to have patience
and perseverance even through trying times, how to be a strong and stable
presence to all those around you.
Thank you, dad. For everything.
With all my love and respect,
Valerie Joy
