Birthday & Father's Day

Today is a dual purpose day. It is Father's Day, of course! I am grateful for the many fathers in my life.
First of all, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father. We have truly been blessed and are continually blessed to have the gospel in our lives. There is nothing in this life that has been done that His hand has not been into.
Second, my earthly father. It has been 8 years ago this year that he left us. There isn't many days or weeks that go by that I don't think of him. He was a good soul. From the stories he and my mom tell, he was a little rough around the edges when they were early married but 20 years later...he was pretty well trained. Ha! I think that is so funny! He always let me tag along to all his baseball/softball games, even when it was probably a pain. He slipped me 10 or 20, when he thought I might need it. He grilled all my boyfriends. He never called my friends by their right name. He did my laundry when I came home from college. He cried when he gave me away. He cried when I had kids. He brought doughnuts when he was "just in the neighborhood." He babysat (w/ my mom of course). He and Blake had lots of bonding moments at the airport, fire house, barber shop, circus, and on and on. Needless to say, I miss him!
Third, Doug! He has changed as many diapers as I have. He has cleaned his fair share of the house. He always thinks ahead. He buys the best presents. He loves his kids. He is constantly trying to teach us all things that he thinks are important. He honors his Priesthood. He loves me in spite of me. He is a great guy! He is also a big kid in a grown up body.
Fourth, Jim, my Father-in-law, is a good man. He is always helpful and supportive of all of us. Hopefully, retirement will get better and better for them.
The other purpose today is my birthday. Doug is in Alaska fishing, so this year is a low key birthday. We did play lots this week, so the day kind of made it into the week. The girls' made me breakfast this morning and got me some nice lotion. I kind of like being 38. Life is good. We live in a great place. We have each other. We have great family & friends. We have kids who hopefully will one day look back on these years and laugh! Who could ask for more?