Dear Dads

Happy Father's Day to the best men in the world:

STUART

One of the best things about having a baby is watching your husband become a father. Stuart is a natural father. I couldn't have asked for a better man to help raise my children with. He lights up every time he sees Grayson - those two have had a special bond from the beginning. Stuart was the one who cuddled, kissed, and held Grayson first. And I'm okay with that. I am so grateful Stu was there to love our little boy then and forever in the future. They are and will be the best of buds.

Not only does Stuart play with Grayson and make him laugh harder than anyone else, but he takes good care of him. He cares for Grayson several days a week while I am at work and he does a splendid job. I never worry when I'm gone because I know Grayson is in good hands.

It was a long road for Stuart and I to become parents. Now that we get to have the titles of "mom" and "dad" we wear them with pride. The other day, Stuart said, "Father's day is my new favorite holiday." He loves being a dad and I love him for that. In fact, he wrote a song about it (ignore the cheesy pictures, not even sure who put this together, but it's a good recording) :

DAD

Everyone loves my Dad. Everyone. I love him too, very much. He truly is one-of-a-kind. I don't know anyone else who can carry the weight of the world on his shoulders with such a cheerful and optimistic attitude.

I am grateful for his example of hard work and diligence. He has a certain stick-to-it-iveness that is unparalleled. My Dad taught me that "it will always work out" because it always did. I learned later that the reason is always worked out was because he made it work. Take his profession for example. He started his own company with three small kids at home and has worked tirelessly to be successful, and sometimes even just to survive (as it goes with owning and running your own business). I am grateful for that example because little did I know then, but my life now is much the same. As Stuart and I struggle to get a band off the ground, I keep the example of my Dad (and mom) in mind at all times and know that with perseverance and hard work, it too, will all work out.

I am grateful to have watched my Dad make friends effortlessly and care for others endlessly. He finds joy in associating with and helping others. I admire that about him very much. I'll always remember the day that my dad came to my high school to speak in a business class or something. He was there during lunch and all the kids from our ward and stake were excited to see him. I was eating my lunch in my modest little circle of friends and my friend Brea turned to me and said, "Brittney, your dad is more popular than you." It's true. People love my Dad.

While I could go on, let me just point out one last thing I love about my Dad. My Dad has an infectious passion for life. While he works hard, he also plays hard. He has many hobbies he enjoys and we've spent many times as a family making great memories boating on the lake or snowmobiling or skiing in the mountains. We've travelled around the world and been worn out by his exhausting pace of sight-seeing. We've tried new activities just so see if we'd like them (camping, fishing, golfing, boating, skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, shooting, you name it). We've tried new and interesting foods and learned to love all kinds of music (rock and roll, opera, classical, country western, oldies, you name it). My Dad wanted us to be well-rounded, experienced, and passionate people and I think it worked. Thanks Dad for all the memories and many more to come.

LARRY

I have the best father-in-law. He, like my dad, also started his own business as a young father and has built a successful company from the ground up. The one thing you'll learn from Larry, just by example, is the value of hard work.

He is the first man on the job to help you when you're doing any sort of house project...literally. One summer, while we put in a sprinkler system, I got up and went outside around 8:30 am to get started only to find Larry had already been there for a few hours working quietly and quickly. He is always there with a smile and a truck load of tools to help you get your job done and we all know, it simply wouldn't get done (or at least done correctly) if he weren't there by your side.

Larry is instrumental in getting me and Stuart together. During a rough patch of our engagement, Larry was so kind to call me and talk me through some feelings of discouragement and doubt. I knew, from those phone calls, that if Stuart was going to be anything like his Dad, that I would be in good hands.

Larry is also the best grandpa. He straps a baby onto his back and goes to work happy as a clam. I love watching him with the babies, so very tender and sweet. Grayson is lucky to have such a wonderful set up grandpas to help him in this life.

Happy Father's Day! I love you all!