So today I've had a nice Father's Day. Janet has made sure to give me plenty of time to relax. I used my free time today to work on my bike and tune it up. More than that I got to spend time hanging out with the kids and just enjoying myself. I also had time to reminisce on my own Dad who lives two thousand miles away in Arizona. I went through the pictures I have and computer and pulled up a few of my favorites of me and my Dad. Each pictures exemplifies something about my Dad.
Supporting Me in My Activities
All growing up I remember how my Dad would support me in the activities as I grew up. As a young kid it was things like soccer. As I grew older it was music, musicals, scouts, church, and a 100 other activities. My memories are of him going above and beyond to support me. He was by no means one of the crazy sports Dads that was more interested in the activities than I was, but what he did always do was work behind the scenes to make sure I was successful. Using his construction skills he would build scenery for different plays me and my siblings were in. 
My Dad probably spent 10 plus years as a scout master. That has to be one of the toughest calling in the church. He did it not some much because he loved scouting, but because when he was asked he always accepted the responsibility and he did it well. 
One story I love is when I was 17 and 9 months. I had completed my Eagle project when I was 14 and had yet to earn my eagle. I believe the only thing I had left was to write up my project report and submit my paper work to earn my Eagle. My Dad sat me down and told me in no uncertain terms that he "had worked too hard on my Eagle for me not to earn it." So with some more help from my Dad I got my paper work in and I earn my Eagle. How grateful I am for that he pushed me to complete something I am so proud of. Below is a picture of my Eagle project when I was 14.
Hard Work
From a very early age my Dad taught me the value of hard work. I'm not sure how old I am in the picture below, but I wash't much older than five or six. My Dad always took me to work and taught me to work hard. When we lived in Colorado my parents managed an apartment complex and were responsible for all the maintenance including snow removal. By the time I was 9 my parents had me clearing the sidewalks using the snow blower that must have weighed two or three times my size.
When we lived in Pennsylvania my Dad worked for a real estate company he always made sure I had opportunities to work. One of my favorite jobs was contracting with him to do interior demolition projects for office spaces. I learned that the harder I worked the higher my hourly rate was and the more money I was able to learn.
I've chosen the same career as my Dad. I am trying to be like my Dad in two aspects of my career.
Technical Competency: My Dad knows buildings better than just about anyone I know. It comes from his years of working with his Dad who did construction and also his years as a builder himself. So as I position my career and take jobs I have made sure to take jobs, tasks, positions that would help me to develop that same technical competency. Following that example has help my career so much.
Treat People Kindly: It is easy to be rude and bulldoze your way through work. My Dad doesn't work that way. He treats people with respect and honestly and it has paid huge dividends. When I've had a chance to work with or meet people who work my Dad everyone only has to most positive things to say. Most people would do anything for my Dad. I am far from meeting that level of working well with people, but I am striving to treat people like my Dad Treats people.
Road Trips
My Dad is a road tripper and has supported me in when I've needed to do a couple a major road trips. One road trip was when I was looking to take a job in New Mexico. I flew out to Phoenix and we hopped in a car and drove 14 hours straight only stopping for food and gas so that I could check out Hobbs New Mexico and the job site. Below is a picture of the job site. Then we after a few hours in Hobbs we turned around and went home.
Another road trip was only a few months later when I was moving to Washington DC. He drove one car and I drove our other car from Arizona to Virginia in three days. I am grateful that he was willing to do things like that to help out.
A Righteous Father
The most important thing about my Dad is that he is a righteous man. I have always been impressed by how good and genuine a person he is. He is always serving others and does it freely. A couple of weeks ago my older sister got married. She asked him to give her a Father's blessing. It was so nice to hear him bless my sister. I was one of those moments when I was really able to feel the Holy Spirit and know that my Dad was a righteous man that I want am trying to be like. The picture was taken right before he gave my sister a blessing. It is hard not to look at the picture and get a lump in my throat.
Dad, thank you for supporting my throughout my life and living in a way that make me want to be more like you.
