Happy Father's Day, Michael

Happy Father's Day to the best dad ever.

When I first started dating, there were a few things that were on my "must-have" list when I was dating. You were the first person to nail every single thing on my list.

There were five things that were extremely important to me: (in no order of importance)

1. be athletic/muscular/manly
2. be funny and like to have fun/laugh
3. be good with kids/want to be a dad
4. the ability to not make anyone feel inferior/get along with all different kinds of people
5. be able to do anything/fix anything; be a "jack-of-all-trades"

I dated many guys in college, and not one of them came even close to my list...especially this list of five things.

Let me talk about these five things a little bit.

1.  ...be athletic/muscular/manly.  This was very important to me. I am athletic and love to play sports and games. The guy I was to be with for a lifetime had to be athletic. We have always done great together in that department. We have had lots of fun playing one-on-one basketball (remember playing by the beach)

2.  ...be funny and like to have fun/laugh. You know how important this is for me. I cannot stand it when people cannot laugh at things that truly are funny. I just love to laugh and have a good time. You and I bring out the best in each other that way.

3.  ...be good with kids/want to be a dad. From the beginning of our dating, I knew that you would be a good dad. You had a lot of nieces and nephews, and you were just as good with them as if you were their dad. It was evident that you wanted to be a dad.

4.  ...the ability to not make anyone feel inferior/get along with all different kinds of people. This is one of your greatest strengths. You have never cared about someone's class or race or color. You have never cared if someone was a blue-collar worker or a high-up executive. You always treated everyone the same. I am not a smart person, but you have never made me feel stupid. That means a lot to me.

5.  ...be able to do anything/fix anything; be a "jack-of-all-trades". This was one of the most important things to me. My dad is not longer with us anymore, but the thing I loved and appreciated about him the most was that he could do anything/fix anything and that he was a "jack-of-all-trades". He has more recently been called a "MacGuyver" of sorts. I was extremely happy that you had this quality as well. I could never be married to someone that was not like this. It would drive me nuts. I know you loved and admired this quality about your dad as well, as he passed this down to you.

I love all these things about you. Today, it is about being the greatest dad that matters. I told you the other day that you were now the Patriarch of our family, since our fathers are both gone. The boys really look up to you and admire you. Every time they filled out their semester questionnaires in school, they always answered the question, "Who do you admire most?" as you. They watch every little thing you do and every decision that you make. They listen to every conversation that you have with them...and they really do ponder what you say and take it to heart.

You always put everyone else before yourself. You have worked endless amounts of hours on both boys' cars and our vehicles as well. You have just now spent the past five weeks working on Jar's Jeep every night and every weekend all day long, lying on the hard cement for 12+ hours a day on the weekends. You have taken Friday's off to work on vehicles instead of doing something fun. When I call you with a list of things to do or get, you always say 'K' and do it without whining or complaining.

You are the best father ever! Thank you so much for taking care of the three of us. Thank you for putting us above yourself. Thank you for making sure we never go without anything.

I am proud of all that you have accomplished. You literally demolished all of your dreams that you had for yourself. You killed it.

I love all of the memories that we have been able to make over the years. We don't even remember most of them. I am reminded of that when I go back and read my journals...we have done so so much together as a family! I will cherish each and every memory that we have had together. Each and every memory is precious!

Thank you for always doing what is right...and not always what is popular. I do hope the boys see this the most in you. You always stand up for what is right! You "Live Out Loud".

I love you so much! You are my best friend...my only true friend. And you know what, that is okay, because it is often said that all you truly need is one best friend...one bosom friend...one true-to-the-end kind of friend. I have that in you.

Happy Father's Day! I pray that we both have many many many more Father's Days together with our boys.

Here are some photos of being a father, the many things you can do, and some of the adventures we have gone on (although this does not even begin to touch the service of the adventures we have gone on--I take photos of everything, and we have thousands and thousands and thousands of photos).

Just a photo of you and your dad

what began it all

Life Lately

The time is flying by so fast here. We have been busy with car stuff, yard stuff, work stuff, school stuff, and chore stuff. The past two weeks went at sonic speed.

Here is what has been happening around here lately:

...this is a photo of the supplies used to redo the suspension on Jar's Jeep

...some photos of the work being done to Jar's Jeep

...Jar's new rims and tires

...we went for a drive on Memorial Day (this looks like snow, but it is cotton...which Cam and I are allergic to)

...our scenic drive

...my day lilies and peony are blooming

...some books I got from the Library

...we went to see Solo: A Star Wars Story in the theater (we went to early service at church and then went after church. Sorry, Mom, it was the only time we could go, and Cam did not want to miss seeing it in the theater)

...Cam cleaned and organized his room (looks great)

...these were under the bed in Cam's room (both boys' baby blankets)

...Michael and I both got sick (he went to the doctor and had strep throat. I was not sick until a few hours later. He took antibiotics, cause he needed to get better quickly for work. I took this arsenal below to get better)

...Jar's Senior photo canvas came in the mail, and Michael hung it for me

...Michael picked up new tires for the SUV at the junk yard

...by the backyard patio

Other happenings around here lately:

• Michael, Cam, and I both struggled with allergies
• Cam had to work five days in a row; He was wiped
• Jar was the King of pool at Youth Group
• Michael and I had some really deep talks with the boys
• We had burgers, hot dogs, and Asian salad for dinner on Memorial Day, and we watched Black Panther

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• We had contaminated water all in the Willamette Valley (algae)
• Michael and I watched Criminal Minds together for the first time in probably two months or so (because he has been busy with car work)
• We went to look at a duplex here in town for Mom
• Cam cut his hair
• I cut Michael's hair
• Michael and I cut Lily's hair
• Michael and I went to the early service together, Panera Bread, and then met boys to watch Solo movie (we loved the reserved seating with the recliners...so much fun!)

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• Michael and I watched The Good Witch
• Michael had to take three days off work, cause he was sick with strep throat (we quarantined him to his room)
• Michael and I watched The 15:17 to Paris movie

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• Michael and I stayed in from church; boys went to Sunday School
• Jar played bucket ball in Youth Group
• Michael got the new (used) tires put on the truck - we paid $300 total, and the tires cost this much or more for just one tire. The tires look brand new

• Michael worked on the Jeep more
• I pulled weeds outside in the back yard