How will you be spending your Father’s Day?
I know from experience when our children were little, they could not wait to give Mike homemade cards from school. My husband would eagerly thank each of our three children and tell them what a great job they did. Smiles and hugs were exchanged as I would be getting food prepared for a special evening dinner.
Now our children are older with their own families. Typically, we like to all get together and have one of our grill masters, Paul (our son in law), or Mikie (our son), masterfully make chicken or ribs (maybe both), as we all enjoy the day. Daughters Kristen, Mindy and Sam (our daughter in law), make fun sides to go all around. Our older granddaughters, Gretchen and Ida chime in and help when it comes time to set out the food. But mostly, they like being by the pool. Gifts go to the dad’s and Paul lucks out, we celebrate his birthday as well!
Since we live at the farm – the littles, (our youngest 3 grandchildren), will definitely keep the party going as they run and play, gather eggs and have fun with the horses. Miss Muffin is our mini and when we hitch her to her little red child size two bench wagon, she and the littles make us all stop and smile. There is no cuter sight.
When I was young, I could not wait to surprise my father with a special breakfast. Being very little I know my sister and I would make him toast and a cup of coffee to take to him in bed. Oh, we thought we were doing such a great thing for him, still in our pajamas…and he never let us down with his great surprise and happiness. You would have thought he had received a king’s breakfast, with only a bit of toast and jam and I’m sure a coffee with not enough cream or sugar. I can remember his big arms hugging me and there was no better feeling of love or security on the earth at that time. We would squeal and laugh with him as he would open our handmade paper gifts.
My father used to tell me about his polo pony, Mickey when I was very little. I loved to hear the stories he would tell me about his pony. My father was allowed to ride Mickey all around town. Of course, times were so much different back then. When my father was little, he told me of how he would ride Mickey to the barbershop. My father would go to the back door and they would put the pony in the back of the shop while he got his haircut. When he was done, he would leave with Mickey out the back door.
I believe my father instilled my love for horses in me at a very young age. I heard these stories and we got our first horse when I was 5 years old. We have had horses ever since. Now, my family, their fathers, and children spend time at the farm with the horses. Additionally, we all work together at our horse fence and stall company.
My sister’s horse when we were little.
I believe fathers are the cornerstone of the family. I also feel that they are able to influence their children more than they realize at a very young age. Those influences stick with children for a lifetime. I am thankful my father gave me such good stories and most importantly, his time.
Here’s to all the fathers that give of themselves to their families and make wonderful lasting, lifelong impressions!
