I was driving when I heard the news that Glen Campbell died.
I cried.
Glen Campbell was part of the soundtrack to my childhood--my dad loved him.
I cannot put into words how much I love him.
I came into this world a little bit crazy maybe.
My sisters used to call me "moody" and my parents kindly referred to me as "dramatic."
I'm both.
But both of those things are part of a package deal that makes me who I am.
And who I am is someone who feels things deeply.
It's good and it's bad but it is what draws me close to Heaven--I long for the things of the spirit.
My dad has always understood this about me and we have had countless conversations about things eternal.
He is struggling a bit and it's hard. Hard on him and hard on us.
As he is beginning to forget, I am doing lots of remembering.
Five things I never want to forget about my dad.
1) He modeled for me what my Heavenly Father is like. I have never been afraid to approach God because I knew Him to be loving, kind, and forgiving. I learned that from my dad.
2) He is the hardest working man I know. Every minute of every day. He taught us all to be hard workers and to do our best and to dream. He is a dreamer that put his dreams on the ground. He wasn't afraid to fail. And he failed a bit. But he also succeeded big. Grandpa's Ice Cream Shop is the cherry on top of those dreams...
3) He loves God. He LOVES God. There is nothing he wouldn't do if God required it of him. His life has been living proof of that.
4) He has been the answer to many of my prayers. One Sunday in college I fasted for relief of the pain I was experiencing from a broken heart. A few moments before my fast was over, and I had felt no consolation, he called me. As we talked he shared exactly what I needed to hear, and what I needed to do. It was the beginning of the healing for me. I will never forget that.
5) He deepened my love for the temple. As he and my mother served over the years, their love spilled over and inspired me to be more meaningful and dedicated in my temple worship. So grateful for our long conversations about the temple.
Those are just five things.
There is so much more.
Love you Dad.
