Happy 79th Birthday Dad!

On Saturday, April 12th, most of my siblings, my Dad and his wife, Alice, got together to celebrate Dad's 79th birthday. Alice treated us to a buffet dinner at Scheider's Restaurant at Zermatt Resort in Midway. The food was great and the company was fabulous. I hope my life is as full as my Dad's when I turn 79 years old.

Things I have learned from my Dad.....Perhaps the thing that I learned most from my father was a strong work ethic. Dad always plays hard, but before playing hard, he works hard. I learned that if there was something worth doing, then it certainly was worth doing well. Scrimping and cutting corners wasn’t allowed much at all. Doing one’s best was a requirement of being a member of the family. These traits are all the more evident now as he battles Parkinson's disease. He is determined to be the winner and I know he will. I am proud of the way he doesn't give in to the disease. Instead, he finds ways to fight it. In fact, he is sharing his knowledge of the battle by funding a new therapy program to help others. What an example of perseverance and endurance!

Next to working and playing hard, the best survival skill for life that I learned from my Dad was to have a sense of humor and don’t take life so seriously. His jokes, no matter how corny, always seem to produce a smile and lighten the mood.

I don’t remember a specific occasion that taught me his love for the gospel and his reliance on the Lord. It was just taught through a lifetime of example. There was never any question as how he felt about the gospel and doing what Heavenly Father required. He just did it, and, consequently, he has a family of faithful children and grandchildren.

There is no one that could match my Dad! I am truly grateful that I am part of his family. He is an awesome father! I love you Dad! And Alice, I love you too! Thanks for taking such good care of Dad.