Father's Day...Happy and Sad

Happy Father’s Day! It’s a special day and a sad day. I miss my daddy very much. He was such a kind man and a wonderful daddy. I don’t ever remember hearing him say anything negative about anyone. He worked a lot and missed some of our activities but I know that by him working so much was his way of ‘doing’ for us. He told me that he grew up very poor and his family didn’t have much. One Christmas he got a whistle that cost a nickel and an orange. He was so happy to get that 5 cent toy. I remember him telling me this story more than once. One day when my daddy was just a kid, an adult male, who I won’t mention his name, told daddy that he was poor and from a poor family and he would never have anything and would never amount to anything. Well, that day was the day my daddy decided to prove that man wrong. He said he was determined that his children would have more than he did growing up and that we would be proud of him. He created a business from the ground up with the help of my Momma. You know, they say behind every successful man is a wonder woman. They made a great team, a successful business and outstanding parents. When the business was just beginning all four of us would go to wash trucks. (Well, I played) Momma washed many trucks in her day along with daddy. My daddy passed away after many years of fighting cancer not to mention other health issues. He was a special man; a strong Christian, tender and kind hearted, loving, loved music, loved food, loved The Braves, loved his Taylors Pride and had a great sense of humor. I think about him every single day. Tim and I were blessed in more ways than we can even begin to tell you.

Today is one of the harder days of the year for me and for many others. A very special man that was another dad to me and Tim passed away suddenly last December, Stanley Crocker. Stanley and Jeanette were my parent’s best friends. Our families went on vacation every year together, went to church together, were neighbors but most of all we were family. Not blood family but family in a way that you can’t explain to others. I’ve thought of his sons, Deron and Jason a lot this week. It will be their first Fathers Day without their dad. Also, one of my best friends, Kelly, lost her dad last December. Her dad had health issues that he struggled with for many years. I’ve thought of her a lot too. It’s hard and it does get easier with time but the pain and the missing never goes away. However, I don’t want it to go away…I want to celebrate my dad’s life and who and what he was!

I now have a Father-In-Law to ad to my dad list. His name if Tom and we call him Sparky. At first I did not know if he was going to like me but turns out…he loves me! He watches out for me when Larry is out of town. He treats me like a daughter and I am thankful for that.

I also have a step-dad, Jeff. He is very good to my Momma and Tim and I are grateful. He understands that Father’s Day is hard for me and he respects that. He also knows that it took me a while to call him my step dad and to buy him a Fathers Day card. He has never tried to take my dads place. I called him today to wish him Happy Fathers Day. By the way, I do call him my step dad or as Larry likes to say, he’s my bonus dad.

Last but absolutely NOT least, my Hubby! Happy Father’s Day Honey! You are a wonderful dad and husband. We are blessed to be part of your life. You are so giving in everyway and a great provider. You have brought so much love into my life. I adore you! I hope you had a great flight today and I look forward to you coming back home to me. I love you…Until next time….

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there! Cherish every moment, life is short and precious!