.... I Celebrated My Father

By highlighting his many admirable attributes as follows:

1. My dad is awesome. He's probably better than your dad.

2. Words. My dad is incredibly smart, especially when it comes to words. His favorite pastime is doing crossword puzzles or playing Scrabble. The highlight of my life (no joke) was when I actually taught my dad a word he didn't know. I thought I was in some alternate reality for a second.

3. Faces. That man is a face contortionist. No joke.

4. Shaped pancakes. He makes pancakes. In shapes. And I'm not just talking rudimentary shapes- I'm talking Eiffel Tower, train, dinosaur and princess shapes.

5. Humor. My dad has an awesome sense of humor which, thankfully, was passed onto my brothers and me. Some people may think we're rude to one another but what they don't realize is that if we're not making fun of you- we don't like you. So be happy we use sarcasm and wit to undermine your existence. And if you ever do get offended, you can blame my dad.

6. Hair. He has none. But once, many moons ago, he had more than me. Lots of luscious locks cascaded from his head down to his chin. He had a beard to challenge all beards. Yes- that man had hair once. Hope he enjoyed it.

7. Teaching. My dad is a teacher and he loves it. He's a great teacher with all the necessary qualities- patience, understanding, caring, and more patience. When I was in eighth grade he retired early from teaching and decided to home school me. (No- I was not a problem child.) It was fun and I loved spending that time with my dad. Even though I hated math and therefore hated him sometimes for making me learn it.

8. Love. Dad is full of love. He may not be extremely verbose, but you can tell by the things he does that he loves you. I know that no matter what I do my dad will always be there to help and support me, even when he thinks I'm making a mistake.

9. The Gospel. My dad loves the gospel. I always have such amazing gospel discussions with him. He is an incredible example of true righteousness. I admire him so much and am so grateful to him for instilling strong gospel principles in our family.

10. Goof. Overall, my dad's just a goof. He's silly, funny, unexpectedly spontaneous. Most people don't know that- he can seem pretty serious and quiet at first. It's all a ruse. He's hilarious and goofy once you get him going. I love it. And I love him.

My dad is pretty incredible. I must have been really good to deserve to be his daughter.

...These Things Make Me Happy

In no particular order:

1. Driving fast
2. Learning new things
3. Good music
4. Frozen chocolate chip cookies
5. Kisses goodnight
6. Being respected by people I respect
7. Coincidences
8. Organizing
9. Cuddling
10. Dancing in the car
11. Spontaneity
12. Traveling
13. Playing games with family
14. Helping
15. Being debt free
16. Giggling
17. Road trips
18. Having someone play with my hair
19. Giving gifts
20. Foreign films
21. Being outside
22. Playing with kids
23. Teaching
24. Snuggling into bed on a cold night
25. Good books
26. Accomplishing a task
27. Baking
28. Pushing myself farther than I thought I could go
29. Seeing things that remind me of people I love
30. Going to the temple
31. Scars
32. Realizations
33. Babies
34. Long talks with friends
35. Cousins
36. Memories
37. Looking at old pictures
38. Discussions with my dad
39. Listening to my mother's stories
40. Trash-talking with brothers
41. Watching clouds move
42. Realizing my first impression of someone was wrong in a good way
43. Seeing the good in others, even those that don't see it in themselves
44. Midnight showings of movies
45. Moments of inexplicable happiness
47. Christmas music
48. Ethnic food
49. Finishing a crossword puzzle
50. Realizing everything really is going to work out

...I am Proud to be an American

I found this as I was going through some papers this afternoon. One of my professors had given us all a copy and I kept mine because I thought it was incredible. My professor's neighbor had just taken the test to become a legal citizen and this is the letter he was given. It almost makes me cry every time I read it.

Dear Fellow American:

I am pleased to congratulate you on becoming a United States citizen. You are now a part of a great and blessed Nation. I know your family and friends are proud of you on this special day.

Americans are united across the generations by grand and enduring ideals. The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding promise that everyone belongs, that everyone deserves a chance, and that no insignificant person was ever born. Our country has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by principles that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests, and teach us what it means to be citizens. Every citizen must uphold these principles. And every new citizen, by embracing these ideals, makes our country more, not less, American.

As you begin to participate fully in our democracy, remember that what you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to serve your new Nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens building communities of service and a Nation of character. Americans are generous and strong and decent not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it.

Welcome to the joy, responsibility, and freedom of American citizenship. God bless you, and God bless American.

Sincerely,

George W. Bush


I don't know if the letter changes with every presidency, but I thought this was beautiful. It truly makes me proud to be an American.