Tribute to my dad

Father's Day was Sunday, and I wanted to write a little bit about my Dad.

I think when I was younger, like most kids, I didn't really understand my Dad. I think kids look at their parents as heroes and as being bigger than life. This also means that we tend to view them in an unfair light I think, and I think I might have done that. Like most kids, I thought he should be perfect; I looked up to him so much. And unfortunately when he made mistakes I think it was disappointing and I felt like maybe I lost out on having that really amazing Dad that you see on TV.

But my view of my Dad has changed a lot of the last several years. I think it's because I'm more mature now, and because I am now a Dad myself. I think I've become far more understanding to the condition of my own Dad and this has allowed me to appreciate him all the more. And as I've been able to look at him differently, with a different lens, I think it makes my Dad seem far more human. I also have come to really appreciate him and what he gave to me.

One thing I really respect about Dad is that he is a man of many, many talents. If he wants to learn or do something, he does it. He is fiercely determined and when he sets his mind to something he just does it and he does it well. He has a belief in his own ability and self, and has made him the man he is on his own with little help from others. He's so independent! I really respect that.

My Dad is the reason we have the Gospel in our life. When he heard of the Restored Gospel, he seized on it and became a rock in the Church. Mom used to tell us how passionate and enthusiastic he was about it, and I give him a lot of the credit for taking that first step and being a pioneer for our family in the Gospel.

He also taught me and my siblings the love of family. Look, he has had 10 kids...the man loves kids. He might not be the most involved Dad, but when you aggregate the sum of years that he has devoted to his children you can see that he is a very committed, loving, dedicated Father. I really respect that, and attribute that own dedication to my own affinity for my children.

I remember many things about my Dad, but there are a couple of things that really stand out to me for some reason. One is that when he worked in downtown Ann Arbor he worked kind of close to a toy store. For a time period I would call this toy store to ask them if they had a GI Joe figure...they'd go a search and if they had one I asked the to hold it for me. Then I would call my Dad and ask him to pick it up for me. And he did, and that really meant a lot to me. He would also make the coolest grappling hooks for my GI Joe guys out of paperclips, and also carved little guns for me out of popsicle sticks. I wish I had those today, just to look at them.

Being a Dad is about sacrifices. In the movie Peter Pan Wendy and John are talking to their mother about their father. They are complaining that he isn't brave - almost like their embarrassed of him. The Mother wisely says that while their father might not have fought in wars or battles, he is nonetheless brave. She says that he has put aside his dreams and his desires for his family, and that some nights he takes them out and looks at them, but he always puts them back for his family. It's said much better in the movie, but I think it's very true and is a sentiment that I share about my Dad.

So on this Father's Day I'm choosing to forget the weaknesses or mistakes of my Dad. I'm so glad he's alive, well, and that I can talk to him every couple of weeks. I love my Dad very much, and am so grateful to have him, and for the part of me that came from him.