happy birthday dad

today is my dad’s 59^th birthday.

here are 59 things I love about my dad…

1. he’s an expert driver
2. I’m never afraid when I’m in the car with him in bad weather
   
3. he taught me how to change a tire
4. even though I haven’t done it again since I was 16
5. we used to play rousing games of “double or nothing”
6. which was him throwing a whiffle ball WAY up in the air and me trying to catch it
7. I think he still owes me about $237,000
   
8. but I’ve forgiven his debt, I owe him so much more
9. he loves my mom and takes her on dates
10. even with a job that required shift work, he always made time for us
11. he has taken me to the shooting range (and hopefully will again!)
12. he loves my country pie recipe
13. he likes to come and visit me and seattle
14. and walk for bagels in the morning
15. we share a love of adventure and both like to travel
16. he is retired military and law enforcement and is respectful to everyone
17. and taught us to do the same
18. he has his coffee every morning the same way
19. he sometimes mixes it up with a different travel mug
20. but it’s always the jump off joe blend
21. made in the mr. coffee 4-cup maker with milk
22. nothing more, nothing less
23. he shares my mom’s love of mcdonald’s iced coffees
24. he likes classic cars
25. he is in an accountability group with guys from his church
26. he shows me how important it is for men to have godly male friends
27. he is a woodworker of the best kind
28. I enjoy working on projects with him
29. even though we both can be impatient with situations
30. we still make it work
31. he loves to work in the yard with my mother
32. they have created quite an oasis in their backyard
33. he is always available to help me with projects when I ask
    
34. like building me a custom shelf/bookcase for my kitchen
35. or going with me to buy tires for my car
36. or hanging curtain rods
37. he loves jesus
38. that one should be number 1
39. he wasn’t disappointed with only having daughters
40. he brings my mom yellow roses for her birthday
41. he is getting interested in learning more about wine because of his job
42. he loved his dad very much
43. he has good friends and is a good friend to them
44. he taught me to put ketchup on macaroni and cheese
45. he loves iced tea, hold the sugar
46. his middle name is oren (I think it's such a cool name!)
    
47. he LOVES to do crosswords
48. I like to help him with them
49. his favorite dessert is also one of mine (chocolate wafer cookies with whip cream)
    
50. he bought me a red candle holder for valentine’s day once
51. I still have it
52. he can power nap for 15 minutes and be completely rejuvenated
53. he taught me how to properly conduct a white glove test
54. he loves Hawaii as much as I do
55. he used to let me switch the buttons, bars and badges out on his uniforms
56. he used to have the classic 70’s moustache and looked hot
57. even though he took two weeks to call my mom and ask her out
58. he still remembers what she was wearing when they first met
59. he tells me he is proud of me

happy birthday dad…I love you!