Fathers

Today is fathers day! My children have a wonderful daddy. He is patient. He is honest. He is playful. He is a wonderful teacher. He has all of the most important qualities and he is trying hard everyday to pass them on... He gets lost in the shuffle and he gets yelled at- a lot, but we know that he is really the most important person in all of our lives. I chose this wonderful man because I have a wonderful father and he has a wonderful father as well. My grandfather Papa Dick passed away on Friday night. He had the kind of life, all the way until the end, that we all hope to have. He was all kinds of greatness but above all, he was kind. When we visited him a few weeks ago, I knew it would be the last time I saw him. We could not say goodbye but before we left he told Ryan what a wonderful father he is and he quietly said "My special Abby". These men are more important than we could ever tell them or even ever really know. Today I am happy to have had so many years with my wonderful grandfather and all of the fathers I know and I am beautifully aware of the circle of life and the hope that my children will grow to be fathers like those who came before them. Leland Richard was named before we discovered our Papa Dick was sick. He has the same round head and the same sweet disposition. I will always remember laying him down on Papa Dick and watching that fat baby smile at him- "You have a good head... Like your Papa Dick.." my grandfather said. Oh- we will miss him but we could not ask for more. I will be thankful every day for him and for my own father. Happy Fathers Day to all of the Fathers in my life. May they find inspiration every day from the fathers before them.