The Greatest Man I Ever Knew

"I am in the only man in your life that will never let you down." Those are words that my sisters and I have had heard since we were little girls. That's how Daddy reminded us constantly that there was no love like the love of a Father for his daughters. We were his precious pearls. His princesses, his baby girls. For me, there has never been any doubt of how much my Daddy loves me.

I remember when I was little and how much he used to travel. I didn't understand it at the time. Now that I am grown and look back on it I know that he was making large sacrafices to provide for his family. I am the youngest of my siblings and came along late in my parents life. You could say that I was some what of a "surprise." Daddy and I used to have what he called "Best Buddy Day." Those were days that he would take me all by myself and do something special with me. Sometimes he would take me to work with him. I remember thinking how special I was when we would ride to the post office together. I cherrished our one on one time together. There was nothing in the world like walking hand in hand with my Daddy.

As I got older I progressed in to a rebelious teenager. I didn't go off the deep end into drugs or anything but boy was I a sassy mouth. A very opinonated teenager who was definitely going to do things my way whether you liked it or not (not much has changed really..ha). We had some shouting matches. I couldn't understand my Dad and why I wasn't allowed to do things that I wanted to do. Again, looking it back on it now I can see that it was nothing but his love for me and how he was trying to protect me as best he could. He watched my heart break many times and each time he would take me in his arms and whisper in my hear "Munch, I am the only man in your life that will never let you down" and suddenly everything felt better. It was Daddy's love that calmed my fears. I look at my life now and the woman that I have become and I see just how much of an impact my Dad has had on my life. It's really insane how much I am just like him. I catch myself somedays and think "Wow! I sounded just like Daddy!" It makes me smile.

There is a special bond between a father and a daughter. As daughters we go through our life most of us searching for a man that in many ways mimics our fathers. We want that same unconditional love and protection and to have that cherrished feeling that comes from the heart of a man in our mate. For me those are some pretty big shoes to fill for whomever my mate may be. My Dad is the greatest man that I have ever known. He has gone above and beyond to provide for us, to spend time with us, and to show us his love beyond measure. He has not only loved his children but has been an astounding husband. There is never a doubt how much my Dad is in love with my Mom. You know from the moment you meet them that he would rope the moon for her. He cherrishes her. There is nothing like her to him any where else in the world. They are a shinning example of what love and marriage is suppose to be like. You can't help but love them both so much!

My Dad has taught me so much about life through his own life and the example that he set for me. Being grown and completely out of the house now has given me time to reflect on different relationships and lately my relationship with my Dad has been heavy on my mind. Though there were times when it was not perfect, I always knew just how much he loved me, cared about me, and wanted nothing but the best for me. I am so thankful for everything he has done for me through out my life and can never even begin to repay him not even with my words. To me, he is man of his word, a man of honor, a man of wisdom, and certainly a man full of humor but most importantly he is my Dad. He will always be the only man in my life that will never let me down and I will forever be his Munchkin!

Daddy, I love you to pluto and back times infinity!!