Bald Knees

Autumn & I got ready and went to church today, which was nice.  After sacrament meeting they told all the Dads to stand up so they could hand out 100 Grand candy bars.  I was tempted to stand up and say I deserved one since I am both Mom AND Dad to Autumn.  But, I didn’t.  After church we came home and changed and then went over to Mom & Dad’s so Autumn could play w/ Andrew before they went home.  Andrew was asleep, so Autumn wanted to watch “and the Beast,” so I put that on for her.  I was checking my email when I noticed that  Autumn wasn’t on Mom & Dad’s bed anymore.  I went to see where she was and I found her w/a huge bag of peanut M&M’s laying on the floor w/ her legs crossed in the air watching her movie.  She cracks me up!

When Mom got home an hour later, we cooked up some noodles and fried some squash & zucchini to go along w/ our dinner.  Mom made rouladen, which has probably got to be the tastiest food on Earth.  We had such a fancy dinner b/c we were celebrating Father’s Day, Mom’s birthday is this week, Lexie’s birthday is this week, and Nate is not going to have such good food in the military, so we wanted him to have a good last Sunday meal.

Lex & Jon brought up a yummy carrot cake from The Cake Plate and we put 2 candles in it for Mom & Lexie to make a wish and blow out while we sang Happy Birthday.

Then after we ate, it was time for Lex & Jon & Andrew to leave.  We had to get a picture of them w/ Papa for Father’s Day.  Autumn had made a card in Nursery today that said, “I love you, Dad.”  So, I just modified it a little bit and wrote in GRAND in front of Dad so she could give it to Papa.  I think this has got to be THE CUTEST picture ever of Dad w/ the grandkids.  I love how much joy you can see in all of their eyes.  Such pure and unconditional love.

They are so lucky to have such an incredible Papa.  I am always impressed w/ how Dad makes sure he is spending quality time w/ them.  When the rest of us want to watch a movie, we send the kids into Mom & Dad’s room to watch their own movie so they won’t bother us.  Instead of watching the movie w/ us, he goes in and spends time w/ the kids.  Even if it’s just to sit there and watch their kid movie w/ them.  He wants to be where they are and do what they do.  He makes sure to tell them all the time how much he loves them and always asks for hugs and kisses.  He is everything a Papa should be.

He is also everything and more that a Dad should be.  The older I get, the more I realize how blessed I am to have such an incredible man as my Father.  He honors and adores Mom and makes sure we always treat her w/ respect and courtesy.  He can give us a Father’s blessing anytime we need it b/c he honors his priesthood.  He goes to the temple once a week and teaches seminary.  He doesn’t let a day go by without reading the scriptures.  He is literally the hardest working man I know.  Even when he’s not at work, he’s always doing a project at home and rarely if never has an idle moment.

For Father’s Day, I wasn’t sure what to get for him as a present.  But on the night when he came over to put my new faucet in the sink, I was helping him and I noticed that he had some bald spots on his knees and wondered why.  Then, a few nights later I couldn’t sleep and the poem below just came to me.

BALD KNEES

My Dad has really hairy legs.
They’re not smooth like a pirate’s peg.

But upon his knee
There is one spot you will see

Where it is bare,
Where there is no hair.

I wondered why this was?
What could possibly be the cause?

When I finally realized why,
Tears formed in my eyes.

He has no hair there,
Because he’s been kneeling in prayer

To pray for us all
That we’ll rise when we fall.

That we’ll do all we can
To follow Heavenly Father’s plan.

To “Relax” and “Be Happy”
And that we won’t feel crappy.

He tells us that, “Friends help each other,”
And is always respectful to our Mother.

By example he leads
In his thoughts, words, and deeds.

So not only is he bald on the top of his head,
He’s also bald on his knees from kneeling by his bed.

And now you can see
Why those bald spots on his knees
Have so much personal meaning to me!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY 2010!!!