Extraordinary-ness of Sept. 8

What is extraordinary about today?

For the 66th time, my Dad will celebrate another year of life today. And those of us who are lucky enough to know him, celebrate alongside of him. Let me tell you about him…

My Dad always has a good joke to tell.
He sets his DVR to record shows that he thinks I will like.
He is a gifted writer.
He has beautiful handwriting.
He taught me to dream big.
If he can see it in his head, he can build it, sculpt it, draw it, paint it.
He is the fix-it guy with cars and leaky pipes and gadgets.
He retired as the Director of Advertising for the Air Force.
He grew up in a family that mocked education, but he worked his way through college and then completed a Masters degree.
He has been married and faithful to my mother for 42 years.
He still gets emotional when he talks about how much he loves “his girls” – my Mom, my sister, and me.
He has a keen sense of right and wrong, and he chooses to do what is right.
He tells my husband that he loves him and is proud to call him “son”.
The only thing more important to my Dad than his family is his faith in Christ.
Daddy sees things in analogies. He looks around and sees how daily, routine things can help us understand bigger truths.
He is humble.
He is an engaging speaker.
People like to follow him.
He has a passion for showing people who God is.

I respect him as a man, not just as my Dad. To me, he is a drum in the band, keeping time, keeping everyone on course. If he were to stop or get off-beat, we would all be lost. He is one of the rare people who can look back on life and know that he made a difference. Not just to one person, but to hundreds. I doubt he’d ever do that, because he keeps looking ahead, looking to see what comes next. And if anyone is grateful for the impact he’s had, he would attribute it all to God.

Extraordinary, indeed.

Happy Birthday, Daddy.