Dad Hansen
Although I have much appreciation and love for my father in law, I have decided it would be most appropriate if Chad writes the tribute to his Father. So From me, Happy Fathers Day! I think you are wonderful too!
When Des first told me about the idea of doing a Father’s Day Tribute to post on our blog I thought, “This blogging thing is getting way out of hand.” :)… my second thought was that a “Tribute” is something that you would do at a funeral… Personally, I believe that we’ll all get the opportunity to listen to the words that will be spoken at our own funerals, but I guess it really is a nice idea to let someone know just how much they mean to you long before that day. So with that in mind, “Dad, I hope this doesn’t feel like I’m speaking at your funeral, but I hope it helps you know that you indeed mean the world to me. And that I feel grateful and blessed to call you Dad.”
I can’t even begin talking about how great my dad is without getting teary eyed and emotional, so that is another good thing about typing it on a blog. No one can see you crying on your computer… unless you tell them about it... Hmmmm. Anyway, like Des mentioned in her blog, it is hard to put into words just how much someone means to you. I could reference hundreds and probably thousands of experiences (thanks to my photographic memory :)) I’ve had when my Dad has taught me, supported me, coached me, been an example to me and literally been there to “bear me up” through challenging times in my life. No matter what the situation, he has ALWAYS been there. I am so grateful for the love and support that he has ALWAYS given me and all of his family. I feel that it is important to mention my Mom in this tribute as well. As they say, behind every great man there stands a great woman. They have been married now for over 34 years (I’m pretty sure) and in today’s world, that is no small accomplishment in and of itself.
One of my favorite stories that I feel represents very well just how much my Dad has influenced my life comes from my days in high school. I think I was 17 at the time and I specifically remember driving around with Des and talking about church and religion. We were talking about how people share their testimony and say, “I know the church is true…” I remember Des saying, “How can someone say they know? They can believe, but how can they know?” I thought about it and said, “I can’t say that I know it true yet, but I can say that I know that my Dad knows it’s true.” During the time in my life when I was searching to find my own testimony, there was no question in my mind that my Dad did in fact know that the church was true and everything that goes along with it. He has always been such a “spiritual giant” in my life and I am so grateful for his knowledge, counsel and testimony.
Again I am so grateful for everything my Dad has taught me in life. I hope to someday grow into the man that he is. He is my friend, my hero, and best of all, my Dad. I love you Dad, Happy Father’s Day.
Dad Garner
What can I possibly say about my dad that would do him the justice he deserves? I have been thinking all week about my dad, and all that he means to me. I’ve never been very good at writing my feelings about someone on paper. In fact, I still think that most of my notes to both my mom and dad say the same thing they used to when I was five or six… “You mean the world to me, thanks for everything you do…” which is very true, but somehow doesn’t start to tell them what they really mean to me. Speaking of my mom, I guess it is only appropriate to mention the women behind such an extra special man. My mom and dad just celebrated 30 years of marriage… WOW! I’m sure that my dad will agree that she has helped make him the father and grandpa that makes me want to write this tribute to him.
For a minute I want to talk about Support. I’m guessing most will agree that a good dad must be supportive, but I think I have a good argument that will make everyone know that my dad was, and still is, the MOST supportive dad of all! It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, my dad is front and center cheering me on. I remember plenty of dance recitals, piano recitals, (even a voice recital:)), soccer games, basketball games, too many tennis matches, and school programs that my dad never missed. He made me think I was the most beautiful, talented, and smartest person in the world. (It came as a mean shock when life made me realize that there were prettier, more talented, and smarter people out there, but to my dad, there truly wasn’t!) Later in life as I was dating and looking for someone to spend the rest of my life with, you better believe the support he gave to me at this time. It was so important to me that my dad loved the man I married, and my Dad and Chad are great buds. Now as life continues to bring new changes to my life, my dad still stands center stage every time he gets the chance. He is the first one cheering my kids on at each of their milestones. When Porter was learning to ride his bike, my dad came over a couple of times to cheer him on, and make him feel important! I was telling him about the words I had counted Trace saying, and he had to add all the words he had heard him say too. Again, he is so proud and supportive.
What a great example my Dad has been to me over the years. He has taught me honesty, service, helped me gain a testimony of my Father in Heaven and helped me find my role on this earth, hard work, the importance of friendship, and being a good friend, being the best I can be, and so much more. I have watched him try to teach me all that life can throw at me. He has prepared me for Motherhood in ways I can never repay. I’m so proud to have a dad that I want my kids to watch and learn from. He truly is a man of example.
Dad, on this fathers day, I want you to know… “You mean the world to me, thanks for all you do!” I love you will all my heart.
My Sweet Heart, and the DAD to my boys...
Here is one last little tribute to the very most important person in my life. My husband! After dating Chad for a few years before his mission, writing during his mission, and quickly falling back in love with him after his mission, I knew he was the only one for me. But, if I am telling the truth, I worried about our differences as far as raising children. Chad and I had lots of talks about discipline before we said “I do”. We both agreed to keep open hearts and minds, when the time came for children. How could I have ever doubted him?? He is the gentlest yet strongest discipliner I know! He has such a way with our boys, I fall back in love with him each time I see him working out problems with the kids. Both of them have such respect and love for their father, I wish he could teach me exactly what he does to make them listen to him.
I have loved watching Chad help Porter learn all about life. Together they spend hours playing sports, camping, a little hunting already (Porter still thinks he is the one that shot a pheasant, but he was only carrying a toy gun!), boating, wakeboarding :), reading books, singing songs, working on all kinds of projects (one of my favorite still is the dog house), working in the yard, and so much more. Porter thinks his dad is the strongest person in the world. Any time anything is broken he says, “we will just have to wait till dad gets home… he can fix anything”. Ever since he was little he waits by the door when he hears dad coming home from work and with a huge smile on his face gives his daddy a big hug!
Trace is such a little daddy’s boy. I must admit there have been times when I’ve been a little jealous of the bond the two of them have. Trace often wakes up in the morning calling for his daddy. When I go in to get him he tells me “no, daddy.” When I try to explain that daddy is at work, he starts to cry and won’t leave his bed. It takes a few minutes for him to decide he doesn’t want to stay in there all day long, so he is going to have to settle, for the time, for his mom. Chad is so proud of the little guy. I often find him just watching and smiling as Trace is goof’n around… something that he seems to do quite often!
Chad can’t seem to get enough of the boys. He wants to talk to them on the phone while he is at work, or even when he is out playing. I often see him debating if the time away from the boys is worth the play time. He is such a home body. He use to say that he would get Des sick when we weren’t together, but now with the boys, it is soooo much worse. I took the boys to Hawaii with my family this past spring, but had to leave Chad home to work. I’m not lying when I say we talked to him 15 times a day. He can’t stand to be too long with his kids!
I have heard it said that we shouldn’t need each other, but that we should want each other. Chad I really believe that I NEED you in my life… not only as my love, but as the father of my boys. You make my life feel important. You make me want to be a better mom each day. This Fathers Day I want you to know that I WANT you in my life now and forever. You are my one true love, and without you I wouldn’t be half the mother or person I am! Thanks for being such a wonderful Dad!!!
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