THE LUCKIEST: The Love of My Life

"Watching You"
By Rodney Atkins

I’ve been watching you, Dad ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I want to be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We like fixin’ things and holding momma’s hand
Yeah, we’re just alike, hey, ain’t we Dad?
I want to do everything you do; so I’ve been watching you.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

I know this post is a little late but we were up at Bear Lake over Father's Day and I've been playing catch-up ever since we got home. Luckily I have one fabulously awesome friend who came over and helped me work on the catch-up, so I'm getting there. But I wanted to get this post up before it was too late.

I was so blessed to be born into a family with an absolutely amazing father. He was always there for me when I needed him. He came to all my dance performances and cheered me on in all I did. He was there when I got the solo in choir, when I made it on my dance team and when I made the drill team. He was also there when I fell off my bike, when my heart got broken, and I still have the teddy bear he got me when I didn't make the cheerleading squad (oh thank goodness) in jr. high. He encouraged me to do more with my life and is still encouraging me in that area. He wants me to be all I can be and he helps me to achieve those goals. He has supported me in all my aspirations. He even supported his baby girl getting on an airplane and traveling halfway across the world to China to follow her dreams. Although he was very unsure of the choice to go, he supported me through it. My dad has taught me hard work, the value of education, the importance of the gospel, and many other things in my life. He was the perfect example of what the role of a man is and the traits that a father should have. I still remember our exciting trips to the dump! He always asked me if I wanted to go with him when he went to the dump and I remember thinking I was so tough and cool when I'd get to ride in the truck with him to take a load to the dump. I also loved getting to ride in the Western Nut truck with him when we'd have to help someone move or something. When we helped my Grandma move out of her house Spencer got the opportunity to ride in the Western Nut truck with him. He was just as excited as I always was when I got to ride with him as a kid in that big huge truck. A few weeks later, Spencer was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. He told his teacher he wanted to be a truck driver like Grandpa Place! :) I thought it was adorable that he wanted to be like my dad and also found it pretty funny that that's what he thought Grandpa Place did. As a kid I really did idolize my dad. Not only is he a wonderful dad, but he's also a great grandpa! Thank you Daddy for being so amazing! I love you!

After growing up with a dad like that, there were some pretty large shoes to fill for the father of my children. Luckily I married an amazing man who does just that. Mike is the most wonderful husband and father I could've imagined. Not only is he playful and full of energy, he is also amazingly smart and wise. He teaches them important lessons. I know that Spencer gets his great intelligence from his dad. Mike is also a wonderful Priesthood holder and teaches our children so much about the gospel. It is so great to have him around because there is not a gospel question that Spencer has had (so far) that Mike has not been able to answer for him. Spencer knows right from wrong and I know that is because Mike has taught him so well. Mike gets up 2 hours early every morning (usually between 5 and 6 AM) so that he can read his scriptures for 2 hours before getting ready for work! Not only am I amazed with this, it has been a great example for Spencer. Spencer is such a good boy and is now reading the Pearl of Great Price all on his own. It is so astonishing to me to listen to him talk about all he is learning by reading it. It was all his own idea but I know that he makes these choices because of the great influence of his dad in his life. Spencer has had some pretty bad hair lately (he said he wanted a mullet...I'm not sure where that desire came from but his hair just kept getting worse and worse). Finally he decided he was ready to get it cut. When his mom asked what kind of style he wanted he told her he wanted to think about it. After a day or so of thinking about it, he came to her and said, "I decided I want my hair like my dad's." I thought that was so sweet. Spencer really does idolize Mike and it is so wonderful that he is able to have such a great example in his life. The reason I chose this song for the title of this post is because Spencer loves this song. When it first came out he told me it was his very favorite song. I know it is because he relates to it because he wants to be just like his dad too. Melia loves her daddy so much too! She really adores him and lights up every time he gets home from work and walks in the door. (Chiefy loves his "daddy" too.)

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Mike and the kids.

Playful