Thank You! (P Style)

So, I am running about a week a half behind on the Father's Day post... no one is shocked! But, I have been looking forward to writing it ever since I wrote the one for Mother's Day. So, here we go:


Daddy,

Thank you for coming home for dinner almost every night, even when you often had to go back to work when it was over. Thanks for asking us about our days, everyday. It may not have seemed like it mattered, but trust me, it mattered a lot.

Thank you for choosing your family over everything/everyone else. I remember when I saw that article of you in Newsweek. It was the first time I realized that in the professional world, you were a pretty big deal, but I can't say I was too surprised, you had/have always been a pretty big deal to me.

Thank you for standing at the end of the pool at every childhood swim meet that I can remember and yelling "breathe" every time I came up for air. It's not like I would have forgotten to breathe, but I can't imagine not seeing you smile and cheer me on every stroke of the way.

Thank you for giving me everything I ever needed, but not giving me everything I ever wanted.

Thank you for saying "no" every time it was better for me.

Thank you for always being capable and willing to give blessings to all of your children and your wife and anyone else that asked.

Thank you for being the only person in the world who could heal my every heartache and cure my every sorrow with a hug and a kiss.

Thank you for being an exceptional husband. I can still remember every night at dinner you saying "Do you know how wonderful/amazing/perfect your mom is?" or something like that.

Thank you for teaching me how to drive a stick shift. It was a horrific rite of passage that I'll never forget. I think secretly I still drive one because it reminds me of you.

Thank you for trying to pass on your photographic memory, even if it involved paying me to memorize random facts of historic importance (i.e. Presidents of the United States in order)... P.S. I can still do it! I tested myself just the other day.

Thank you for taking us on lots of trips and family vacations. As an adult, I can only imagine how horrible that was for you.

Thank you for being a wonderful provider and protector. It might be a trite statement, but the gratitude for it is immeasurable.

Thank you for teaching me the importance of doing all I could to not only being smart, but also to be educated.

Thank you for teaching me how important it was to try as hard as I could at everything I attempted, but to be proud of myself, no matter the outcome.

Thank you for taking us out to breakfast every Saturday, just you and the kids. And, for making us animal pancakes. It wasn't until I was in high school that I realized that all four-legged animals looked exactly the same. As a kid, I saw in those pancakes whatever I asked you to make. And, boy were you a great artist!

Thank you for teaching me through your example to be kind to everyone, without exception.

Thank you for hugging EVERYONE you meet. I can't even tell you how many of my friends love you because they knew you loved them, even if you didn't know them all by name.

Thank you for studying the Top 40 when I was in high school and then conversing about the newest music every time you drove me anywhere with my friends. It was both embarrassing and cool that you were trying so hard.

Thank you for teaching me that it is always more important to give than to receive.

Thank you for picking my mom. It was the best decision you ever made. And, thank you for sticking with her, even though she probably spends most of your money!

Thank you for giving us all of those ridiculous nicknames, none of which I can ever remember, but somehow can also not forget.

Thank you for NEVER saying anything critical or judgemental about anyone. In my over three decades of existence I can NEVER remember you ever saying anything even remotely critical, which was especially important in my growth. You are the reason I am so comfortable in my own skin.

Thank you for loving me unconditionally.

Thank you for buying us Polly, we always wanted a dog. And, thank you for letting us keep Scottie, she needed a home, even though she was a piece of work!

Thank you for teaching me to stand on my own two feet, but also letting me know that I could always come home if I ever fell down.

Thank you for believing in me and telling me every time I talk to you that you're proud of your baby girl.

Thank you for teaching us how to work... really work. I remember hours and hours of weeding, after which we got paid by Slurpee. (I would like to point out that migrant workers got a better deal). But, it definitely gave us character and taught us important life lessons.

Thank you for teaching me how to negotiate every business decision I ever made. A great deal of my professional success is credited to your counsel.

Thank you for naming one of your big projects at work after moi (and one after all the other kids too), it made me feel special (and kind of like a hurricane).

Thank you for being the best "papa" in the world to 1o (soon-t0-be 12) of the luckiest little grandkids in all the world.

Thank you for being the perfect example of humility and generosity. People often tell me things that you've done for them and given to them and how it changed their lives.

Thank you for telling me every single day that you loved me, and often signing it too (although, I hope somewhere along the way you noticed that I am not deaf).

Thank you for my genetics - my legs (they look exactly like yours) and my teeth (still never had a cavity). Some of my greatest traits come from your gene pool.

Thank you for being a guy that welcomes everyone and anyone in your home and making them feel like they belong.

I wanted to post this picture for you. It's in my room. And, what I love most about it is the way I am smiling so big my eyes can't even stay open. Every decision you've ever made was for us - even before there was an "us". You've made my life so blissfully happy.

I love you more than I could ever express in words. To me you are everything! To quote the oldest and wisest of your brood, I will always have stars in my eyes when I look at you, my perfect daddy.

Love, Ali

Two words - MECHANICAL BULL!

A little over a week ago a few of us decided that we needed to go down to L.A. and dine at the Saddle Ranch and ride a mechanical bull and dance the night away... because, well, why not?!?

It was a blast. And, as soon as my boss found out my weekend plans, he gave me pointers. "I used to ride a bull you know, I am not sure if you were aware of that or not. First, sit on your hand and keep your arm straight. Second, always look at the bull, not at your friends." He's a riot. And, his pointers helped. Though, I am about as good at riding a mechanical bull as I am at anything labeled a sport or a game.

And, what goes with steak and a mechanical bull more than a ginormous sized cotton candy?!? Well, nothing, of course.

Update: Photo Style

Dear Mom, Dad and family. I've noticed that I haven't posted any photos lately. Just so you know, your baby girl still looks the same, except older. So, these pictures are mostly for you!

Last Week I went to see Glee in concert. It was so good! I LOVED it. And, we happened upon this candy store. Which I also LOVED (of course).

I had Youth Conference with my babies in our Shrek Green shirts! (By the way, is it just me, or do with think there are already too many Shrek movies, stop already!) And, I stared into the face of one ticked off rattlesnake, while trying to list off in my head times in which I had been more afraid, there were only a few.

We went to Pismo Beach, for the 3rd year. As always, it was quite enjoyable. The weather was nice. And, it's the one time each year I get to ride ATVs in the dunes. And, just about the only time I willingly go camping.

I have been quite active. I did a Ragnar Race again (200-mile relay race from Ventura to Dana Point). We were really good (clearly, I was the handicap). There was a dude on our team that ran 5 1/2 minute miles. I called him "the Kenyan." We had a blast, even on very little sleep, and we finished alive and in about 26 hours or so.

I also did a Warrior Dash... which sounds fierce, but actually was really a lot like a junior high school obstacle course. But, the day was fun. We got to have Wood Ranch and no one spilled their ribs on me this time, so that part rocked.

And, Sondra was nice enough to let me play with her kids all weekend. We went to Pretend City, a cute place that is a simulation of a city customized for the likes of little ankle-biters. A very darling idea.
Whew. Done. 2 months of photos/activities. Updated.

Styled By Night

One of my closest friends in all the world (Melanie Fairbanks Gray) married into the raddest family just about 2 years ago. I don't even know them all that well, but is it weird that I adore them like they belong to me?!? Maybe so.

But, anyway, Mel's sister-in-law has great taste and style. And, recently she started this cute little blog Styled By Night. It's darling. She's darling. I like it. So, I am sharing it with everyone else. Go Jenna. I think your blog is a masterpiece. I will frequent it regularly. So, keep it up.

Thank you (J Style)

So... as you all know, Sunday was Mother's Day. And, I am sure you all think your moms rock. And, I am sure they do. But, no mom can top mine. She's the best.

I called my mom on Sunday and she spent an hour telling me how wonderful I am and what a blessing I am to her and how she feels selfish that she got the five best children God ever made. I am pretty sure it's a good thing I can't see or hear any of you laughing. And perhaps, it's an even better thing that none of you can see how hard I laughed at it too. Now isn't that so sweet?!? Especially since it wasn't too long ago that she balked "I have five kids, but I only like two of you!" I am pretty sure that I was ALWAYS one of the two!

I didn't even do anything for my mom this year, and she still thinks I am wonderful! How did I pull that off?!? But, although I am a little late, I'd like to give my mom a little thank you shout out, publicly so you all get to see how you missed out.

Let's start at the beginning - Thank you for loving me even though they had to break your tailbone with a mallet to extract me from your womb, and, in spite of the fact that I was born on the exact same day as your oldest child, thus ruining her 6th birthday party and putting a damper on the ones that followed.

Thank you for teaching me how important it is to be honest and always tell the truth. It sure was awkward being the only kid that gave the school a note that said "Please excuse Ali from school yesterday, she just really didn't feel like being there." And, it sure was funny when you made me get inside the shower and start hopping around before you'd tell a boy I didn't want to talk to that I had just hopped in the shower. I remember thinking you were such a dork, but the lesson that I learned was important and poignant.

Thank you for being a little bit nutty. Screaming at the top of your lungs out the front door and into pillows so you didn't hit us or lose your sanity. It taught me that the best moms are the ones that don't pretend they always have it together. Perhaps the neighbors thought that you needed to be medicated, but I liked your lack of pretense. You were always real.

Thank you for driving me to swimming, and t-ball, and seminary, and school, and ballet, and gymnastics, drama,volleyball, and basketball, piano, and singing and... for never saying much by way of discouragement when I changed my mind every six months because there never really were that many things I had a natural talent for.

Thank you for being a mom that not only taught me through your words, but also your example, that the way the world defines a person's worth and the way Lord define's a person's worth are distinctly different and that the latter is always more important.

Thank you for teaching me to see the best in people. And, for understanding that most people do the best with what they know. And, then for teaching me to always strive to know as much as I can in order to be better than who I am.

Thank you for buying me clothes. And, teaching my to love shopping and fashion, although you may have wanted to start with that lesson a little bit younger. Because, for the love of everything good and holy, I haven't been able to find many childhood photos where I had ANY pants on?!?

Thank you for TRYING to have Family Home Evening. Even though, someone always fell asleep, someone always got flogged with a flying object, and someone always left the room crying. I always remember you trying.

Thank you for marrying my dad. It was the best decision you ever made! Thank you for staying married and enjoying it. And, showing me through example that marriage *might* definitely be worth the work.

Thank you for teaching me by word and example how to be dependable in all things from little to big. I can still remember you saying "there are two kinds of people in this world, those who do what they say they're going to do and those who don't. You have to decide now which one of those people you are going to be, because you can't be both." Dependability is one of the characteristics I have come to admire the most in people.

Thank you for trying so hard to teach me to eat healthy. I am sorry that one didn't exactly take!

Thank you for writing me a note on the napkin that you stuck in with my school lunches. It was sweet... and embarrassing... and it ALMOST made up for the fact that I NEVER EVER EVER got anything that a normal kid would consider an entree, just a whole lot of snacks.

Thank you for saying "no" a lot, everytime it was important and necessary.

Thanks for all the little traditions you made up, like picking us up and taking us out to eat on our half birthdays - even though they might have only been carried out sporadically, I DO remember them fondly.

Thank you for teaching me the important lessons in life that steered me to being a Christ-centered human being, but also letting me figure out who I wanted to be.

Thank you for teaching and showing me how important is to take care of yourself.

Thank you for loving me even when I was a teenager.

Thank you for telling me until you were blue in the face to be kind to my brothers and sisters because someday they'd be my best friends. Like always, you were right. Sorry, it took so long before I listened.

Thank you for teaching me that it was only ok to be sad for a moment, but then I had to pick myself up because there wasn't enough time for pity.

Thank you for choosing to be happy, no matter what happened in your life. And, for teaching me how important it is to be grateful for each and every blessing, instead of focusing on the ones I wish I might have gotten. And, for living a life that showed me that 'life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain.'

Thank you spending so much time on your knees on my behalf; for always being in that position when I walked in to kiss you goodnight; and for teaching me to pray for other people, showing me how important it is and promising me that it always works.

Thank you for always loving my friends like they were your own children. I promise you several of them have repeatedly told me often they have wished they were.

Thank you for telling me every single time we talk that you believe in me, that I am more than enough and that you couldn't imagine being more proud that I was your daughter.

I love you more than you will ever know. You are one of my greatest blessings. And, for all that I do well, I owe more credit to you then I will ever deserve to take myself.

To Be Defined

Jackie is my favorite co-worker and one of my dearest friends. She has the sorry misfortune of spending at a minimum about 45-hours a week with me (since she can't even lose me during lunch hours). Anyway, for the past year and a half I have had the wonderful privilege of spending most of my waking hours with her. She is so so so wonderful and fun. We laugh hard everyday.

Anyway, a while back I started composing a list of all of the funny things that Jackie has said about me. So, I thought I would give you all a taste of how I have been defined by someone who knows me better than most. Here are her defining quotes:

"Um, not very many people have all their conversations in a manner that mirrors a sitcom."

"Oh no, don't start singing. This is NOT a karaoke bar!"

"You are really really good at driving while you eat."

"Are you saying that if you didn't do your hair everyday you'd look like a Duggar?"

"You are like the Patron Saint of birthdays. Someone turns a year older and you show up with a cake!"

"Is that your idea of saving your money, giving it away to a charity?"

"Wait, you just went from giving away all your money to charities to insurance fraud in like 10 seconds flat!"

"I am not saying you're an outlaw. I am just saying there is a little bit of outlaw in you."

"If you had your way, your kids would come out 6-months-old and wearing a costume."

"What diet are we going on now? Are were going to be drinking lemon water with honey and cayenne pepper like all the other crazies?"

When I grow up...

The only things I remember wanting to be when I grew up were an author and a mother.

Oh well...