Fathers Day 2007

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” -Theodore Hesburgh

There is a man in 'hog heaven' right now, riding a tractor, wearing boots and a cowboy hat cutting the grass around his east Texas property. He is 72 years young and is happier and healthier than I can ever remember. He has always been an active part of his family, loved my mom, provided everything we NEEDED, not wanted (the 77 Chevy Chevette as my first car proved that one), encouraged us, disciplined us, laughed and played with us, let us go when the time came and generally did everything the best he knew how for as long as I can remember.

He is everything I could have asked for in a father and more.

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." Mark Twain

Something astonishing hit me the other day about my dad. When he was my age (46) he had 3 kids in college, a mortgage, bills, a job, stresses of everyday life. I never, ever remember him complain about the expense of kids, never felt like a burden to him and never thought for one minute he was nothing but a proud father. He didn't have to have the latest and greatest toys during that time of our lives, he sacrificed for us daily.

Now he has the best of everything he wants due to the grace of God and his hard work.

He is a smart man.... look at his family.

I love you Roy Dale.