Daddy's Girl

I have learned over the years that the credit of any woman's success is a result of the relationship she has with her father. Whether she becomes a strong independent woman because she never had a father to rely on, or a career driven woman because she watched her father excel in sales. It's amazing to me that out of the 80 students I teach, I can easily point out to you within 2 weeks of teaching them who has a relationship with their father and who does not.

My success as a teacher, a woman of God, a friend, and a daughter is a direct result of my relationship with my father. There is not enough internet blog space to do my father justice in describing his qualities as a dad. His qualities have molded and shaped me into who I am.

God blessed me with the "ideal" father. A man that has earned my utmost respect and love, a man that loves God and a man that loves his family. I can remember seeing my dad at every game, concert, and school event that I ever had. I can remember my dad working endless hours just so that my family had everything that we needed. I can remember walking downstairs on Sunday morning and seeing him sitting at the kitchen table reading his bible to prepare for church. I can remember countless conversations about boys, money, jobs, grades, classes, politics, Christ, and values. One thing I cannot remember is fighting. My dad and I have yet to have a heated discussion and he is the one to credit. His calm and loving demeanor had the ability to calm my spirit when disagreement would arise.

Growing up I never experienced the "I need to find myself" or "I'm figuring out who I really am" thing. I never felt the temptation to test the waters and one of the driving forces was knowing the disappointment I would see in my dad if choices were made. A main focus for me was making my parents proud of me. I wanted nothing more than a hug from him and his words of approval.

Today as a 25 year old woman, I pray my dad is proud of me. I'm proud of him. Life circumstance and situation will never alter the love, respect and admiration I have for him. The qualities that I admire so much about him i sought out in a husband. John is the only man I have ever dated that opens my car door every time, he carries the groceries in without being asked, he mows the lawn without me mentioning it, he compliments me without hesitation, he speaks encouragement into everyone he meets, and he always the lets the driver in front of us go first (a quality that my mother and I do not always appreciate but the men have it right ;). I am honored to say that I have found a man with my father's qualities and if he loves me the way I have been loved by my father......life will be good.

Memories of dad that make me smile:
1. For my brother Andy's birthday he brought me a present home too! (Andy didn't like that)
2. Whenever my mom would come downstairs he would say in a really corny, Jim Carrey voice..."SSSMmmmOOOkin!" (she would roll her eyes and say, "Oh Eric.." she loved it though)
3. When I was offered my teaching job in Charlotte he got in his car the next day and drove all the way down here to "drive around and check out the area." He stopped at the police stations to find the safest place in Charlotte for me to live.
4. He read bible stories to us before bed out of a HUGE picture/story bible...Andy and I had matching bibles
5. He wears white calf length socks with shorts
6. Eric loves him some BUICK
7. He would drive up to college to take me out on dinner dates
8. He always made Sunday lunch--it was either--Mexican pizza, burritos, or nachos (note the trend)
9. He would not bend on the "dating at 16 rule" (boy did that cause some drama on the homefront)
10. (soon to come)


Happy Father's day Dad.
I love you.

-Daddy's Girl