This is fun! My favorite memory is when my very "outdoor challenged" husband tried to take our 4 kids camping for a "give mom a break" weekend. He bought a tenet the other campers fondly referred to as the Hilton. After smores and campfire tales they headed off to bed. At around 2 am I heard noise outside and opened the door to find 4 shivering little kiddos and 1 large ice cycle they called Daddy. Their tent collapsed, a bad storm started, a tree fell on his car, his cell phone battery died and finally they made it home. Now most Dad's would have been a bit grumpy but not him. He bathed the kids and they built tents out of blankets in the livingroom and made them hot chocolate. I give big time props to my babies Pop!

My husband has done a wonderful job raising our children (now 6 and 3). He quit his job to work out of the house and take care of them full time and my favorite moment is when I picked my son up at Pre-school an the owner commented on what a joy my children are and how I should be proud of hop they behave.

In preparation for our daughter's first birthday last year, my husband planned a wonderful party that included friends and family who traveled from far and wide to join in the celebration.  Little did we know that my 32 year old husband would be admitted to the hospital the following day after failing a stress test and received quadruple bypass surgery that Friday.  Four months later, he had additional surgeries due to diabetes complications.  After nearly a year back and forth to various doctors and even losing partial sight in one eye, he has never shied away from being a very attentive and active father and he lives each day to its fullest.  Now that our little girl is two, he lives each day for her because you just may never know.  While recovery was slow and each day is spent learning more about how diabetes affects the body, it has become his personal mission to educate everyone he meets about eating well and exercising.I can't tell you how many of our friends immediately went to see their doctors after learning about what we were going through.  I'd like to think that he not only is making a big impact in his life but has done the same for countless others.This Father's Day we have a lot of lives to celebrate and a lot to be thankful for together.

 

Me and my husband aren't expecting yet, so I'm going to write this post in reference to my own brilliant father. My father is a beautiful man with a heart of gold. I have several wonderful memories of my father, most notably because he was always there, he was a constant wonderful presence in my life. I don't think he can be summed up in just one sentence. My father served as a national accounts manager with a global company, he was a deacon in our church, and he served as President of a board that helped the mentally and physically disabled. Some of my favorite memories of him including him taking us to functions to work alongside the disabled, he taught us to never, ever treat anyone else like they were less than perfect and to always count the blessings. He took us to soup kitchens every Christmas and I remember that everyone he met knew his name, and shook his hand. He was so warm and loving, when we went to the shelters, all the men would remember him, talk to him kindly, and he would ask them all about their lives. He touched so many people that way.

On the other hand, I could be quite a handful. I hope this isn't inappropriate to post, but this is just a funny little memory that I have as a child that my mom brings up every once and awhile in a joking way. I was, I'm guessing, around 7 and I watched a "forbidden" movie on TV that was about vampires. I saw that the vampires were searching for virgins. This really scared me and the next morning, when my dad was helping me get ready for school, I asked him, "whats a virgin?" He looked at me wide-eyed and asked where I had heard that. I told him, and after he scolded me for watching the movie, I asked him again (even though he had cleverly avoided the question). He told me, "well, its when you aren't married." I told him "so I'm a virgin?" And he said, "yes." And then he quickly tried to drop the subject by heading to the kitchen. Of course I followed him. And thats when I told him "I don't want to be a virgin anymore." He said, very simply, "yes, you do." After much arguing, he told me to drop it. I, of course, was frustrated. So when he was dropping me off at the school bus and talking to a mother who was dropping off my friend, I very loudly told my friend and her mother that I was no longer going to be a virgin (in my head, thats how you avoided vampires). My father, shocked, took me by the hand and anxiously told my friend's mother that meant that I wanted to get married, but that of course I wanted to stay a virgin. I was in near tears now because I was so angry. I said, "you and mom aren't virgins! Why do I have to be?!" My father was so flustered he drove me to school, and told me not to use that word again. Later that night, my mom came into my room and told me that my father was so strong that vampires were scared of my father, and thats why they would never even come close to the city, so I was safe. So it didn't matter that I was a virgin. I believed her.

My favorite memory is when my Husband bought our first Dishwasher and him and my 3 year old loaded it and put regular Dishwashing Soap in it ! We had bubbles all over the Kitchen .... it was too funny :)

My bio father was killed in a accident when my Mom was pregnant with me,she remarried when I was 5 months old,he was the only Dad I ever knew,no pictures were ever seen that he didnt have me in his arms carrying me around,thus we were buddies until his death,he was my best friend,he would sneak me my bottle when mom was trying to break me from it,he took me fishing when back then ,girls didnt go,an hunting,even though i never touched a gun,it was just to be by his side that was important to me,whereever he went I wasthere,he was a tall man an I was the little short tomboy redhead trailing everystep of the way,to fill his shadow,he was always taking me with him,even when he an Mom had a son together,he still took me,i miss him so much,so if you still have your father enjoy him an create those memories as we are with my husband an our children

 I'm  a musician and I used to bring my daughter to recording sessions.  The wives and girlfriends of other musicians would make such a great fuss over her she kept asking me when the next recording gig was going to be and then made sure it was understood she'd get to go.

My husband and I are expecting our first child now.  I'm about 6 months along and have been having a great pregnancy.  I don't have too many memories of my husband as a "daddy" to share just yet, but I know they will continue to develop.  I will say that so far my husband has been so supportive of me.  During the times that I wasn't feeling well, he has rubbed my back and been by my side.  More than anything, I love when he holds my stomach and feels the baby kick inside of me.  It helps to make a connection between him and the baby.  We have enjoyed brainstorming baby names and can't wait to meet our little one.  We're so looking forward to this new change in our lives and am enjoying every single moment!

I remember the day I met my father. I was 20 years old and in nursing school. I had stayed home from school that day because I had a terrible case of the flu. My voice was almost nonexistant, and when I answered the phone I must have sounded like a frog. The voice on the other end said "Hi! This is your dad." I almost passed out! He said he wasn't sure if he had the right number because it sounded like an old man answered the phone...at least I know where my sense of humor came from!  The day he came to my house I was so nervous to meet him! I didn't know what I was going to say. What was he like? Maybe he wouldn't like me... I opened the door to find an older male version of myself! I couldn't believe how much I looked like him! He scooped me into his arms and we both cried. It was like I remembered his embrace, but I was only a toddler when my parents split up, how could I? We talked and talked through the night. I just couldn't get enough of him! We enjoyed a most wonderful relationship for 25 years until he passed away. That tall dark handsome man is and always will be the love of my life!

being a new family, we haven't had much time for building memories yet, but there are two special moments that fell outside of the regular day-to-day special moments. the first is a few weeks ago, when my husband was having some personal daddy time with our now three-month-old son. he was bouncing our baby on his knee, talking to him, and just being a daddy when our baby turned, looked him right in the eyes and laughed his little giggly laugh. charles (my husband), inspired by this sudden joyous behavior, decided to make really goofy faces and sounds at our son while "tickling" his sides. our baby was jus laughing and laughing, like it was the most hillarious thing in the world; and he got to laughing so hard that he suddenly farted. this was not just a little baby fart, no; it was a huge, baby shaking, room rumbling, obnoxious, college frat party, explosion. needless to say, our boy stopped laughing and got this 'what was that?! do i cry? do i laugh?! what do i do?!?!' look on his face. when charles and i busted out laughing, though, he must have decided it was okay to laugh, because he just got this huge grin on his face with his little tongue sticking out and his eyes all squinted. (daddy changed the diaper, without even being asked)

the second memory that will always stick in my mind is one my husband doesn't even know about (as far as i know). i came home from work one morning, just exhausted, ready to just fall into bed. i got into the room and all i could do was stand there and look at him, lying there in bed, our four-week-old baby swaddled and cuddled into the nook of his arm, both sleeping peacefully, snoring not-so-peacefully (both of them). at that moment i was struck with how wonderful a father charles would be to our son, and how very much he loves his baby boy. the admiration washed over me and i just wanted to stop time and keep that moment forever.

My 8 year old son was in a writing workshop this year. He wrote about what kind of animal he would be if he had to mix two together , so he chose to be a Shargon ;a shark dragon that is. When it came time to write about himself as an adult and where he would work, he chose every job my husband had previously done . He wanted to be a cook, a clerk and a courier. I took that a step further , my husband is a good man, an unselfish man and that's what my son saw in him and  what he aims to be. We'll be married 11 years soon and he still makes me so proud.

My entry may seem strange, but if it does not qualify, it is well worth posting and reading.  My husband (Jason) of almost 13 years now, is an awesome daddy to my 4 year old daughter Aubree.  I could list multiple memories of them, or actually what he allows her to do to him (painting his toenails and fingernails purple, or dressing up and putting make-up on him and being a ballerina).  It is awesome the bond and time he spends with her to allow me to "get things done" sometimes!

I received a phone call from him Thursday that he would be late and unable to attend our nephew's baseball game.  You see, recently, one of his bass fishing club members was involved in a motorcycle accident, had severe head trauma and is at Baylor in Dallas, and it also killed his wife, a beloved teacher in our small town.  They were hit by a drunk driver.  They have two children (7 and 12), and just recently has he been able to remember them and be told of his wife's fate.  So these children have suddenly been stripped of their mother, and maybe even more difficult, a daddy that may or may not have these awesome memories to cherish because of his injuries.

Now, back to my husband's phone call.  I was, and I will be honest, "perterbed" initially that he would not be there to help with our daughter at the game.  Do you know where he was for almost 5 hours?  He loaded his tractor, and spent the afternoon/evening mowing this family's estate.  He was inevitably "being" the daddy these children once had, so that when they return home, they can swim, play croquet, tend to their mother's ever growing garden, etc.  He didn't "move" a thing that was a reminder to the children of their mother and father.   When my husband/Aubree's daddy came home, he was exhausted, nearly in tears, b/c the entire time the only thing he could think about was when he mentally griped about my landscaping overflowing into his grass, or all of the toys that "are usually in his way" as he manages our home/yard.  He gave us a big hug and said that he would never do that again.  He will appreciate the small things about us that "are" us, because one day they could be stripped from him in an instant. 

So, my most cherished memory is actually a weak moment, a tear, and a hug 3 days ago from my loving and devoted husband/daddy, for trying to put some normalcy into two children's lives that will never be the same with their own daddy.

Hug your children, tell your husband how much you appreciate him, and play with them as often as you can, for we do not know what the future, near or far, holds.

I love you Jason for helping others in need, and I'm giving you Props to Pops for the above reason.

 

Tamara McCann

Mother to Aubree (4)

Wife to Jason McCann, who always puts others first.

 

Here's to my husband...I couldn't have wished for a better father.  I can still see the tears of joy he cried when he saw our daughter on the ultrasound for the first time and realized we were having a daughter.  We each came into the marriage with sons; I had two and he had one. Now we were having a daughter together.  When she was born and he held her for the first time, he was in awe. He brought her to me and said "She's beautiful".  We work opposite shifts so he's been an evening Mr. Mom and he does a great job; kisses boo-boo's, fixes dinner, carried a baby in one arm while watching our sons' basketball games.  I think the thing I love the best is the games he plays with our daughter.  He calls her "The Goob" and has silly songs he's made up to make her laugh. They're silly, goofy songs that would make no sense to anyone else but the two of them like "Spider on the Window".  For her 4th birthday, all she wanted was a Barbie car..it was all she talked about...one of those battery-powered Barbie cars.  She asked him for one all the time.  Of course, he went out and bought it, brought it home and spent hours putting it together and getting the stickers on it perfectly.  She was too young for it so there he was running alongside the Barbie car helping her steer and pushing the pedal with his hand. Since then, our daughter calls him "My Barbie-Car Daddy".

My dad - where do I start?  He was a man of great wisdom yet could act as crazy as the next fool.  I loved him- still do! But since he died when he was 49, I will share this memory in hope that my youngest son, who is now a father would be in the running for these wonderful prizes.  My son is a lot like my dad. He laughes and plays hard with his children just like his grandpa- my dad did. He is also very gracious and forgiving like dad, too.  I remember making lunch for my father one day when mom was at work. (I was in 5th or 6th grade).  I fried bacon; or should I say I burned bacon for BLT's. After placing the black grease in a cup on the table, I made the sandwiches for our meal and we sat down together to eat. Before I realized what happened my dad picked up that cup of grease thinking it was his black coffee and took a gulp!  The surprised look on his face told it all.  I thought my life - or at the very least, my cooking days were over; but dad was very gracious and over the years before he died, he teased me many times about how bad my coffee making skills were but he never stopped encouraging me to cook for him.

When I was pregnant with our second child, a son, my husband told me he was happy he'd had three and a half years with our daughter alone because he had been able to focus on her and teach her things that he might not have if he'd had a son first. Our daughter is into pink and princesses just like most four year olds, but she also has a working knowledge of tools, fishing equipment, bugs and dinosaurs. I thought it was very sweet that my husband recognized how important it was to not sequester her because she's a girl...