Category Archives: holidays

Total Daddy’s Girl

Surely I’m not the only person who can’t get out of the Father’s Day card aisle with dry eyes, right? Because going through all those cards for dad’s sure got blurry on me, and it wasn’t allergies!

No, I am a tried and true Daddy’s Girl, and I’m very proud to say that.

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See, my dad is the best. I keep writing and rewriting what to say next, because I just don’t know where to start!

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My dad loves me unconditionally. Both of my parents do, and for that fact I am forever and ever thankful. It gives me this wonderful base to grow from, lean on and feel confident in at all times. I know they accept me and love me no matter what.

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I know that if I fall down, I don’t have to look far for a hug and a hand up. I know if I fail they will be there to catch me and support me and help me learn from that mistake and failure. Do you know how very comforting that is to know?

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Dad has taught me so much about life, and with those lessons I feel confident in my ability to be successful. He’s taught me about business. He’s taught me about people. He’s taught me how to treat others. He’s taught me how to expect others to treat me.

IMG_20150621_140523709-01He’s taught me to keep an eye on those gauges in my truck. He’s taught me to check my tires. He taught me to drive like everyone else is an idiot (and they usually ARE.) He’s taught me the importance of having a reliable vehicle in general.

He taught me how to be self-sufficient, even in those “guy jobs” I often don’t have to do (but could if I had to.)

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He has shown me the importance of faith and God. A huge lesson I got is that God comes first, and it’s a lesson that has stuck with me to this day. Even as I admittedly fall down in executing that, letting work and other tasks keep me from making it to church as often as I should.

IMG_20150621_135549146-01My dad is also my friend. I can’t begin to describe how much I cherish and remember our times talking over coffee back when I was in college (or there abouts.) I learned so much family history and heard so many stories as we sat and talked. I hope he knows how much I loved those chances that we had, and I do hope we get to do it again some time.

Mattox_0074My dad taught me what to expect from a man, and he taught me not to settle. He showed me that real men cook and do dishes. He showed me real men don’t think of jobs in the male/female sense, and that you should just do what needs to be done. He showed me how to put your family first while never giving up on your dreams.

Mattox_0204He gave my now-husband a stern talking-to when my husband asked my Dad for permission to marry me. And I love the great lengths he and my Mom went to hide the fact that a proposal was on the way.

Mattox_1000But more than all of this, I love my Dad and he loves me and all of our family. And I absolutely know how very, very blessed I am.

Daddy’s girl? Oh yes. And I so wish I was spending this day with him…

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!

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I would be sorely remiss not to send a special Happy Father’s Day shout out to my big brother… he blows me away every single day by how much he loves his family and cares for them. He is without a doubt an amazing, amazing Dad. And I couldn’t be prouder of him.

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Remembering those that gave all

 Nashville National Cemetery
Nashville National Cemetery

We have some pretty wacky holidays in this country. National Pancake Day. Checkers Day. Cheer Up The Lonely Day. But Memorial Day is far from wacky, even if its meaning sometimes gets a little lost.

Memorial Day unofficially marks the start of summer. This long weekend means barbecue, boats and family gatherings. It’s a chance to break out that bikini and show off how hard you’ve been working to shed those winter pounds. (Well, ok, if it’s not raining…)

Memorial Day also gets somewhat confused with Veterans Day, which is also a great and special holiday, when we honor all who have served in our military. Memorial Day, however, focuses on those who gave all in service to our country. The ones who never came home.

According to History.com: Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Time ran a fascinating article today dating the holiday’s history to 1865 and slaves in Charleston, SC. 

No matter when it began, Memorial Day is our chance to give pause and acknowledge (and silently thank) the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to help ensure our freedom and way of life. The people who never came home to their loved ones waiting arms. The ones who never got a chance to hear us — the people they vowed to protect and who live in the country they served — say thank you.

So today, amid beer, barbecue and the competitive game of horseshoes, take a moment in silence to honor these soldiers’ memories.

Prayer for Memorial Day from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops

Prayer Source.