Memories of Dad Paint Party Friday

 Paint Party Friday

Art Journal Journey

 I missed you all last week still recovering from the flu. I went down hard and I am so grateful to be on the mend... still slow going and catching up on sleep but so glad to be a lot better... wow that was harsh!  

Walking the dog!

Special occasions can be so difficult for some people.  So many young people today have daddy issues... whether big or small I am reminded how fortunate I was to have a daddy who loved me to bits. Who would go to the ends of the earth for me, who gave wise advice, who I trusted implicitly and always felt safe with. 
 

Mix it Monthly "Home"

Was he perfect? NO....but boy he taught me a lot, showed me how to have fun without money, how to ride a bike, roller skate, swim, golf, play baseball, crib and bridge! We could chat for hours, always  proud of him I kissed him on the lips until the day he died! I loved my dad so much!

I am in many ways my fathers legacy! He was kind and fair! He loved and enjoyed conversations with women of all ages and was excepting of everyone. He sat with the shunned gay man at work during lunch, listening to his sad stories! Relaying those stories taught us acceptance at a very young age!

 To dad, a house was a house,  a car was a car it never had to be the best, just nice.....he highly  appreciated everything he had,  including my mother who could be a  chronic nag at times. However to give mom her due, she was always doing, cooking, cleaning, reading,working or playing...she was probably always tired!

 Saying prayers done in Mindy Lacefields  free class

 As Fathers day approaches feelings of abandonment bubble up for many kids! Others feel misunderstood, lied to, second place in step families, judged, and shunned because of different religious beliefs or lifestyles. Some children wrestle with parental mental illness or addiction!  I feel sad for them. I realize now I was one of the lucky ones!  My father had alcohol issues that escalated in his later years and at times   wreaked havoc on the family. 

However for the the most part he was a really wonderful dad who tucked me in at night, read me stories, built me a playhouse and listened to me when I felt forlorn. He set a great foundation for security in my world! My dad really understood me!! He's been gone 28 years but all the lovely memories are cemented in forever!

I remember that night well! After mom had criticized me, dad was 
kindly explaining why my mom was the way she was!

Did you feel understood by your dad?