DAD'S BIRTHDAY WISH FOR HIS GRANDCHILD

Today is Feb 4th... my Dad's birthday.  Most of you know from my previous posts that my Dad passed away from a short 6 week battle with cancer in the summer of 2011.  

I can't help but think, and be sad, and wonder how he would be turning this day which should be to celebrate him, into celebrating life and each other and new changes.   He always did a great job at not wanting the spotlight on him - but he felt way more celebrated hearing our stories, and seeing the smiles on others faces.

This birthday I feel a bit different - I'm pregnant - and grandchildren were one of my Dad's GREATEST joys.  When we'd be having our many deep convos he would often express through tear-filled eyes that his happiest moments were the simple times he got to spend pushing my niece Taylor on the swing, or watching my niece Emma on the trampoline, or seeing my nephew Hayden excited to see a model airplane.  It breaks my heart that my Dad is not here to see they joy we are experiencing bringing a life into this world!

If my Dad was here today, celebrating his birthday, his family, his grandkids and his newest grandchild do to arrive in July - I wonder what advice he would be giving me.  

I found this Paul Harvey letter - I feel like it would be EXACTLY what my Dad would be saying to our lil baby (if he could).

Letter to my grandchild:

"We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I’d like better. 

I’d really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would. 

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it’s all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he’s scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you’ll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. 

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don’t ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won’t be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. 

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head…..

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don’t care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don’t like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor’s window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you – tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it’s the only way to appreciate life….

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I’m here for you. And if I die before you do, I’ll go to heaven and wait for you."

Happy Birthday Dad!  Love you - your lil girl.