Fathers

I just couldn't end this day without saying a little something about the father's who have touched my life. Beginning, of course, with my dad...


I seem to have a lot of pictures of my dad before I was born, or when I was very little. I also have a lot of pictures of him after I was married...when the dementia had really kicked in. I was looking for a picture that looked more like the dad I remember the most. When I came across this one, I started to cry. This is him. This is the day I went into the MTC (missionary training center), on my way to Scotland. There is nothing that gave my dad more joy than to see his children serve the Lord. This was a good day.

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my dad. He suffered from severe depression most of his life. For some reason, even when I was very young, I understood him. I never felt any resentment toward him for the challenge his depression placed upon our family or upon me in particular. That's not to say we never had it out...we are very much alike and butted heads more than once. But overall, I was blessed with a great compassion & understanding for him--a great gift from another loving Father.

I can't begin to express the joy I feel each time I picture him now...whole, happy, engaged in a work he loves, & watching over his family. I miss him. I also love him too much to ever wish him back to this place. I will see him again. I love you, Dad.

I also want to say how grateful I am for my husband, his father, & his grandfather. I was not blessed to have known either of my grandfathers in this life. I can't tell you how excited I was to become this man's granddaughter through marriage...


He was able to seal Justin & me in the temple. His words of inspired counsel & realistic advice have helped shape the course of our marriage. Not only is he spiritual, thoughtful, & kind...but he is hilarious, energetic, & magic! My kids call him the magic grandpa--and he is.

I was also blessed with another incredible father through marriage. (This marriage thing has really worked out for me!) Justin's dad has had such a great influence on our family. Justin & I respect and admire him on so many levels, and our kids adore him. He is never too tired to get on the floor and wrestle, or be the tiger, or the dog at the bottom of the dogpile. He is constantly teaching the kids fun new things on the computer...which they LOVE! He has great integrity & love for the gospel, and I am so grateful that he has passed those things on to his son. Thanks, Dad...I love you.


Finally, Justin...the BEST father on the planet! When I was looking for someone to marry, the kind of father he would be was just as important to me as the kind of husband he would be. I already had a great love for the children I knew would be mine. I knew what they would need in a father...and Justin was it. I could go on for days about what makes him a great father, but I will sum it up in 3 words...HE LOVES THEM. I'm not talking about your ordinary kind of love. I'm talking about love that permeates through & jumps out of everything. It is genuine, it is constant, & it is unconditional. Every time I see him with them...

...I love him more!

Now that I have my own son, I watch as this line of generations begins to pour its influence on him...from Earl, to Douglas Earl, to Justin Earl, to Ammon Earl.

I'm so grateful for a Father in Heaven who created such an important role for fathers in the Plan. What would we do without them?!


good things...

1. husbands
2. fathers
3. grandfathers