Simply Dad

Ephesians 6:2-4 (NRSV) "Honor your father and mother"--this is the first commandment with a promise: {3} "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." {4} And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Back when I was a kiddo, my dad told me that if the cows were laying down, then the fish weren't biting. Well, last Thursday evening, my Dad took me out fishing on his boat.  The evening summer storms had just rolled out.  I drove toward their house, passing a lot of the farmland in our county on the way.   Every pasture I passed, the cows were laying down...no kidding.  I just laughed to myself.  The fish will look at my bait and laugh. Daddy and I had been planning our fishing trip for a while, so we were both excited.  As I got out of the car in his driveway, I expressed my concern that the cows were laying down.  I really wanted to catch a fish. He told me not to worry about it. I seriously cannot remember the last time I was fishing with Dad on the boat - at least 20 years.  We headed out to Lake Lanier.  The weather was beautiful.  Dad cruised around the lake with his high tech GPS thingy and found some of his favorite spots to fish.  We had a great time as he taught me how to cast certain types of baits, straightened out my line when it tangled, unhooked my bait from a rock....AND took the hook out of my 2.5 pound spotted bass' mouth!!!! 

 

For the record...I know how to swim.  Dad makes it a rule that you wear a life vest.  This particular model is very comfy.  It doesn't inflate unless you fall in the water.  Amazing.  I offered to test it out for him. He said it wasn't necessary. Here is a picture of Dad with his 2.3 pound spotted bass. 

We had such a good time. I am so thankful to have a wonderful Christian daddy.  Our lives were never perfect, but Daddy has always made time for me, listened to me, loved me and provided for me growing up.  Daddy took our whole family to church, taught me right from wrong, taught me to trust the Lord, and to listen to and follow the Lord's plan.  One of my favorite things Daddy said that has stuck with me all my life is, "Go with your gut."  If I ever felt unsure of a situation, I should go with my gut feeling.  We both knew that it was more than a gut feeling.  We both knew that it is the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking, guiding, and protecting. Thank you, Daddy, for being my teacher, my father, my friend. 

I have so many great family memories.  One of my favorites is Daddy grilling on our back deck over on Valley Brook Road.  I would watch him meticulously stack the pieces of charcoal into a pyramid, add some lighter fluid and start the coals.  I can still smell the charcoal, the meat grilling, and the smoke. 

This week, over at Stampin Sisters In Christ, the card challenge is a Father's Day card.  I chose to make one with a grill image. 

SSIC #93

I am so thankful for all of the wonderful times I have with my Daddy.  He is a wonderful Pappy to my children, too!

Supplies Used : Image from Michael's Recollections, All other supplies are Stampin' Up!

Rachael