An Awesome Father

Happy Father's Day to Neal and to our own fathers, as well as those who have provided good father role models to us.  Neal has been a wonderful husband from the start but it has been a joy to watch him as a father.  He not only provides for the material needs and wants of our family but he devotes his energy to our emotional and spiritual needs as well. That is no trivial task, mind you. 

Neal talks thing through with me when I am struggling with something.  He is a good listener and his advice is timely and sensitive.  He comes home for lunch regularly and will talk with and tickle his children.  Neal will walk in from work, exit the house and start mowing the yard.  He presides in our home as a man who is worthy of the priesthood of God.  That says a lot to his family and Heavenly Father.  Neal helps with cooking, bathing kids, sweeping, fixing things and pitches in.  He makes us all laugh.  Neal looks for opportunities to help others.  He chooses to be positive about life.  Neal is a joy to be around.  Neal is a great example and someone his children and wife look up to.  We feel blessed to have him as ours.

For Father's Day Neal slept in and then was treated to breakfast with bacon--an amazingly tasty food seldom seen in our house these days.  We gifted Neal with the book Wookie the Chew by James Hance. We have some artwork of his that we cannot wait to put up in the office some day soon.  We also gave him a U.S. Flag and mount to adorn the front of our house because his patriotism has always been something we admire.  Sophie and Rhys (with their Grandma Sue's assistance) got their daddy a very nice wood pen with case.

We attended church as usual and they presented the men with chocolate.  Sophie and the rest of the Primary children (ages 3-11) sang two songs for the fathers.  In a special program insert was quotes form the children.  When asked "What is your dad's favorite thing to do?", Sophie replied "He likes to turn up-side-down in the pool."

While Keri baked and cooked in the kitchen, Neal tried to take a nap but he couldn't because he is a dad.  The kids found every plush item from their rooms and carried it out the the living room to cover him.

In the evening we had his Dad, Rudy, and Becky over for a viewing of old slides.  Neal was completely tickled seeing old pictures of his dad in his army days, family trips, and classic cars.  We served up glazed lemon bars, a favorite of Neal's.   

We were happy to spend the day reflecting on and showing our appreciation of the strong yet tender men in our lives.  Thank you for all that you are to us.