Happy Belated Birthday Dad

In the hustle and bustle of the summer I have forgotten to wish a few important people in our lives HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (I will have a separate post for them). This post is specifically for my father.

For his birthday he wanted all of his family to go on a camping trip. It just so happened the place he wanted to go was 5 hrs away for us on a week that Dave had to work through Friday. I was feeling bad that we weren't going to make the trip. I decided Monday afternoon, July 20th to make a quick trip to Utah and deliver my dad some of his favorite ice cream. We surprised both of my parents when Ryker and I arrived at 5:00 in the evening. They were both so happy to see us. Ryker and I were able to stay for a couple nights and help get them packed and ready for the camping trip. My dad's birthday just happens to be the 24th of July. He has never cared for the Pioneer Day celebrations so he usually likes to go out of town. I was glad that we were able to spend some time with my dad that week.

Today, I have been thinking a lot about my dad and the characteristics that I admire. Growing up my dad was always getting his hands dirty. Besides working a full time job he always did his own car repairs, planted a garden (as children we had to weed it), built sheds, painted the house inside and out, finished the basement, did all his own home repairs. Growing up my dad was always outdoors camping, fishing, hunting, and hiking. I have some very fond memories growing up fishing in the Uinta Mountains with my dad . Some of my favorite childhood memories are of camping with my family on my great aunt Arthela's property. I think we were up there just about every weekend from Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend. I grew up camping in a trailer (which is still the way I prefer to camp, although we have only tented if for years), I remember my dad leaving the camp fire and going to the trailer to start the furnace, then when it was nice and warm and our sleeping bags all rolled out he would come get us and we would run from the warmth of the camp fire to the warmth of our sleeping bags.

My dad also loved to help out with all of the sports I played. Whether he was coaching of just on the side lines to assist or to cheer me on. I can't think of many occasions when my dad has not been there for me in one way or another. When I was younger I was much closer to my father. I am not sure exactly what changed but when I became a teen I started to rely on my mom more. Most of my early childhood memories include my dad doing something fun with me. Dad, you are still fun when you want to be... just teasing, I love to spend time with you.

As many of you know my dad had a stroke just over a year ago. I went and spent the month of August at my parents helping prepare for my dad to come home from his 2 week stay at the hospital and then trying to help my dad do some basic tasks and run him to appointments with the Doctors & physical therapists. Although that was a difficult time for my family, I feel that we were able to bond closer together. After coming home from the hospital my dad was told he had to go to a Dr. to help in his recovery. When we got to the Dr. office the Dr. point blank told my dad that he had regained all the movement that he would have for the rest of his life. The Dr. stated to my dad not to expect to regain his balance (including walking normally), or have any use of his right arm. Lets just say this Dr. was very blunt and didn't hold back. My dad looked him straight in the face and told the Dr. that he didn't believe him, "I choose not to believe you" were his exact words. At the time I thought wow, that was bold of the Dr to say but I was more touched by the attitude that my own father had at that moment. It has been a year and my father has regained most of his balance (enough that in the picture above he is able to carry Ryker around when he wants to, something I wasn't sure a year ago would ever happen) and continues to work on the mobility in his right arm., although it is not the same he is not giving up his efforts. This past year has been a difficult one for him, as I mentioned above, in the past he did everything for himself. I know that my dad has never been one to ask for help but would always be willing to help where needed. This was a humbling experience, he had to overcome his pride and ask for help from his immediate family and his siblings. He has also had to learn how to do many things left handed or with just one hand. I am always impressed with the things he undertakes to do. I am very proud of how my dad has handled this trial, I am sure that there have been times he wanted to throw in the towel but he continues to push ahead.

Dad, I am so proud of how far you have come, I am proud of the attitude that you continue to have. You have taught me so many things in life but the most recent is to never give up on what you want out of life. To never listen to the negative voices of other people and to keep a positive attitude. Thank you for being a wonderful father and grandpa. We all love you very much! My wish is that you will have many more birthdays to come.