A Little Story For Father's Day

A Father's Day Story in pictures. . .
Once upon a time, ok not THAT long ago, I was born. That's me and my dad. c. 1964. I was the first born, and was loved very much by Dad and Mom. It wasn't long however, before the truth about the plans my dad had for me started to come out. Here's proof:
Do you see that? He was planning early on to show me the love of what I affectionately call "dirty work" You know what I mean, yard stuff, raking leaves, picking up sticks etc. He has always had a tremendous work ethic, and still does to this day. So I know deep down, he was just trying to pass this on to me like all good dads do. My Grandpa even joined in on the action!
(By the way, at the age of 12 or 13 I wasn't allowed to mow the grass anymore. I would mow about 5 feet away from the trees and Dad would just have to re do what I did. Smart huh?!)

So I grew and a couple of years passed and Dad continued his quest to teach me the value of hard work. Not only did I have to learn by watching his example, I had to actually DO the work in order to get the full effect. Unfortunately, the opposite reaction started to take effect

Do you see that look on my face? That was the expression I had throughout much of my childhood everytime I had to go outside and "help" with some "dirty work" By the time I was in my teens, I had a great system going, where after I had worked for awhile I would say, "I have to go to the bathroom" and hurry back into the house until he caught me, and made me go back out again. My skill was legendary, and our family still talks about it today. I thought no one would ever match up to my finesse of getting out of work. . . Then this happened
Meet my oldest son. The ultimate shirker of hard work. I just know this child is my payback for all those trips back in the house to get out of my duties!

All I can say is that I'm so glad my brother came along a couple of years after me.
He likes all that dirty stuff! He even wrestled in mud to try and catch a pig and a cow once. But that's a story for another day. Here's my Dad and Brother more recently
They are farmers, fathers, and very hard workers and I couldn't be more proud of them!

I asked my kids to tell their Dad today some of the things they had learned from him. Their answer was lame. . . "How to mow the grass"

Here are some things and famous phrases I learned from my dad

• Don't turn your back on a Ram sheep (ouch)
• Dragging and throwing branches on a brush pile, and splitting wood in the dead of winter didn't kill me after all
• School work is important
• Girls aren't supposed to call boys. The boys are supposed to call the girls!
• "Nobody said it would be easy" (the main one I heard in college)
• And, "Don't pick the first apartment you look at!" (and I did, every time!)

In all seriousness, I have really learned some of the most important life lessons from my dad. He showed me what a great husband was (and I have one), and he taught me how to "think" and be smart. He is often silent and really thinks things through before acting. I'm so glad to have inherited this trait from him. It has served me well throughout my adulthood. And about that work ethic, this week I worked about 60 hours in order to get all my work done. So I guess some of his efforts sunk in after all!

So Dad, when you read this, I hope you are relaxing, not working too hard today, and are having a great Father's Day. I love you, and wish I could be there with you! Happy Father's Day!