Tag Archives: dads

I Could Write For Days.

I could write for days about how he lavishes mercy on people. How he rarely has to forgive, because it’s unusual for him to take offense to something said or done. Because, he is the master at making allowances for other’s faults. I could spend all day telling you how he pours out wisdom over and over and over again. How he has saved me from so many blunders. How he has kept me so many times from letting my words fall at the wrong time at the wrong place. I could tell you how much he loves God’s Word. How much he loves His Maker. How much he loves doing what he does. How good he is at doing what he does. How much he just loves. Doesn’t judge. I could tell you so many things.

How he is the most fun person on earth to sing Garth Brooks songs with.

How he can make you laugh harder than any other person.

How he can laugh at himself.

How adorable it was that his favorite part of Ireland was riding on this site seeing bus.

I could spend all day sharing all of the hilarious things, all of the inspirational things, all of the love-filled things about him.

But, it would take an eternity to tell you what it’s like to call him Dad.

It would take forever to share the stories of what kind of father he was to me when I was growing up. How he practiced patience. Made me laugh. Spent huge amounts of time with me. Didn’t buy into the “quality time is better than quantity.” He knew quantity mattered. So, he spent as much time as he possibly could with me. And, he still does.

Every single day that Kris is gone, he will call and ask me, “What do you need me to do today?” I thank him over and over again for helping me. He replies, “It’s a joy.” I called him the other day to say thank you for picking up the kids from school. He responds, “I love spending time with my grandchildren. I’m glad I get to do what I do for them.”

He does everything without complaining.

He does everything with immense joy. With immense grace. With immense love.

Dad, I could not imagine a more wonderful father than you. I could not dream of a more amazing, a more present grandfather to John Henry, Anna, and Jett. I am so thankful that I get to call you my pastor, my mentor, my friend. But, nothing compares to being able to call you Dad. Nothing. You are the best. Period.

Happy Birthday, Dad. Thank you for making life filled with so much grace, so much love, and sooooo much fun.

I love you,

Dusty

 

 

 

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Filed under God Stuff, gratitude, parenting, Relationships, Writing

A Fish Story.

Few people make me laugh until I cry.  My dad is one of those people.  It might be intentional like the time he replaced my toilet paper holder with a trick one.  When I rolled, a recorded, “scary” message from my dad played.  That was pretty funny.  Frightening, but funny.  Or, it might be unintentional.  Regardless, whenever I’m around him, I’m just sure to laugh. 

This most recent family vacation was no different.  Many laughs were had.  But his attempt at booking a fishing boat nearly sent me into early labor.  Not really.  But, dang, it was fuh-nee. 

Driving around the gulf coast, Dad pulled into a bay area where many boats sit waiting for someone to rent them.  A few men were standing in front of one boat.  Dad thought it a good idea to call on that particular one.  He called and inquired.  While speaking with the boat captain, he noticed a gentleman in front of the boat talking on the phone, too.  Dad continued to collect information when he said to the boat captain:

“I think I’m lookin’ atcha right now.”

A moment of silence ensued.

Then, I heard Dad simply respond, “No?  No.”

“Err, this boat is not available on that day,” the Captain told Dad.

Nor was it going to be available any other day seeing as how this Captain, who was probably resting soundly in his bed up to the point that he thinks some freak is spying in on him, more than likely felt…uneasy?

I laughed until I cried.  I especially laughed when Dad hung up his phone only to find the gentleman in front of him was still talking on his. 

He’s a funny man.  A funny man who loves the scriptures more than any other person I know.  A funny man who is more excited about Christ today than he was thirty-three years ago when he first entered ministry.  A funny man who is real.  Who never speaks ill of anyone.  And loves those who don’t even return that love.

I may never be as funny as him.  But, I sure hope I pursue Christ and love people like him.

Oh, and he did get himself another fishing boat.  He just had someone else call. 🙂

Dad - fishing PCB

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Filed under God Stuff, Love, Randomness, Relationships