Happy LOVE day, Dad!

You might be wondering why I am choosing today to write a tribute to my father.. and that's because his birthday happens to fall on Valentine's day every year! I'm not sure if he likes sharing his special day with the rest of the world (because he has to buy his wife a present on his own birthday!) but it is an easy day to remember for the rest of us. His mother, my grandma Roma, used to tell me how she would send him to school on his birthday with pink Valentine heart cookies to share with his class-- how the times have changed since then! You must be getting old, Dad!

I really LOVE my dad and feel so grateful that he's mine. Growing up with so many brothers and sisters, people would always ask HOW my parents did it. Now, with three of my own, I ask myself the same question! Somehow they did it-- and they raised some pretty excellent kids, if I say so myself. I remember being a little girl and understanding how Heavenly Father could love ALL of his children so individually and personally.. it just made perfect sense to me because I grew up seeing my own dad, watching him with his 10 children. He knows us all on a personal level. He treats us as individuals, punished us differently and loves us like we are only children. He is the best dad anyone could ask for and I am a lucky girl to have been raised by such a great man! Here is my tribute.. sixty reasons why I love my dad. That's right.. he is the big 60 today!!

♥ he's smart ♥ he's a great grandpa ♥ he's kind ♥ he's humble ♥ he taught us by example, not by preaching ♥ he knows how to play a killer game of Rook-- you have reason to celebrate when you beat him! ♥ he's a terrific chef ♥ he has a green thumb and a beautiful garden ♥ he built his own greenhouse so he could garden all year round ♥ he grew lilies for my wedding ♥ he's got a great sense of humor ♥ he's loving ♥ he doesn't give advice unless we beg for it ♥ he doesn't care what the world thinks ♥ he studies the scriptures faithfully ♥ he felt so bad about missing my daddy daughter date when I was ten.. we went out for hamburgers and shakes later that night- just the two of us ♥ he loves newborn babies ♥ he taught us that things aren't important ♥ he's witty ♥ he doesn't take credit for anything ♥ he's giving of his time and money ♥ he's frugal ♥ he served in the army (even missed the birth of his first son) ♥ he trusts his children to make the right decision ♥ he NEVER passes judgment on anyone ♥ he loves serving in the local care center ♥ his testimony is firm ♥ he doesn't sweat the small stuff ♥ he took us to Lagoon every year, even though one of us would usually end up getting lost ♥ he's never driven a fancy car ♥ he would take us to Holiday for fountain drinks ♥ he likes to camp ♥ he's our #1 supporter.. never missed a big event in our lives and went to EVERY game my brothers ever play in! ♥ he always let us play city sports.. even when money was tight ♥ he took me and my sisters on a business trip to San Bernardino ♥ he has a great laugh ♥ he works hard ♥ he knows a good mexican restaurant when he's found it ♥ he doesn't beat around the bush.. he calls it like he sees it ♥ he always worries about us when we are on road trips! ♥ he's honest ♥ he would take me to referee basketball games with him every Saturday.. ♥ he's close with his siblings ♥ he served a mission in Mexico ♥ he loves sports ♥ he always paid tithing, no matter what ♥ he knows how to save money ♥ he is a worthy priesthood holder and gave us blessings every year before school started ♥ he's taken the time to visit me when we live far away ♥ he lets us remodel his house when he goes out of the country! ♥ he's wise ♥ he follows the prophet ♥ he told me to get a scholarship for college.. I didn't know student loans existed ♥ he likes his whiskers pulled from his face ♥ he has a massive food storage ♥ he's giving ♥ he's selfless ♥ he loves my mom ♥

Happy Birthday, Dad!
I love you and hope you have a great day!

ps ** when I say he has a massive food storage, I mean MASSIVE. They have a mini grocery store in their basement. If you don't have a dad breathing down your neck about food storage, let me pay tribute to him by saying this: "Get prepared. We have been warned over and over and NOW is the time to do it! If we are not prepared, we will not be able to care for our families. Can you imagine anything worse than watching your children suffer? Do not be scared. Be faithful and get ready for what is to come..." If you have any questions, I will give you my dad's cell number.. he knows everything :)