that cute little blondie, badass pilot, and proud father grinning from ear to ear is my dad.  and i know that i’m the luckiest girl in the world to be his daughter.

my dad is the guy who has a hilarious nickname for everyone and a joke for every occasion.  he still works seinfeld and airplane quotes into everyday conversation, and he makes sure everyone’s glass is full at parties.  my dad still calls me sweets and always works on my car when he comes to visit.  he can fix anything, and he plays the most awesome songs on his guitar and sings off-key without reserve, just to make people laugh.  when we were little, he would give us piggyback rides and play hide-and-seek with us before reading us scary stories by edgar allen poe.  he’s the dad who can juggle, who makes the best pancakes and the best smoked salmon, who enjoys good wine and good food but is never a snob.  he loves trains more than any kid i’ve ever met, is known as “the peanut gallery” in our family, and finishes every text message with “luvs.”  he’s the guy who has a two-page home security and safety checklist to complete each time they go out of town for the weekend, and who has a fire extinguisher in every room of the house.  he’s practical-minded, logical, and seeks to make everyone feel comfortable.  he’s a man whom you’d trust to protect you in any type of danger possible, but who is also the most tender-hearted individual who loves kids, animals, and elderly people.  he has a heart for serving the Lord and everyone around him, and is the man who will always do the right thing no matter what.  he gives and gives and gives to others.

i get teary-eyed when i think of my dear dad walking me down the aisle in four short months.  i really see him as the reason that i’m about to marry such a wonderful guy, because he taught me about love and what to look for in a man, husband, and future father.  i see the way my jamie looks up to him, and it is so meaningful to me, because i know what an amazing role model my dad is.  and today, my brother asked my dad to be his best man in his wedding, which i thought was the coolest thing, because my dad really is THE best man.  my family and i feel so blessed that he is ours.

happy father’s day, dad.  you are everything to me, and i love you more than i tell you.  we think the world of you and hope you know how special you are.

and to all the other fantastic fathers out there – jamie’s dad and brother eric, my grandfathers who have passed, and the many others in my life, we love you!  xoxo