Daddy-O

I have been contemplating what to write about on here. I've been all over the place, really. And sometimes I forget that I am just myself on here. I'm not telling you about the great brownies I baked earlier (though, you can read about them on my other blog. AND they're delicious), or pretending to be a very exaggerated southern version of myself. Though, that's a fun blog too. But, since it's Father's Day this week I decided to spend some time talking about fathers.

I have an excellent father in my life. He and I but heads a lot because we have, like, the same personality at times, but I know that he loves me very much and would do almost anything for me. Last spring I was having some car troubles, just some minor stuff, and he climbed under my car and fixed a broken tail light and a few other things that needed to be done. My dad turned 70 this year, and he's still fixing my car when he can.

Growing up, my dad wasn't around a whole lot because he traveled for work from Monday to Thursday every week. Until I was 10 years old I only saw my dad on the weekends. I didn't think anything of it because it's how it always was for me. I sometimes wonder how different things would have been if he'd had a "regular" job with "regular" office hours. But, I'll never know because that's not how it was.

One thing I do know is that my dad is a great man. He is very generous and kind. He looks out for other people and loves to make people laugh. I love watching him with my nieces and nephews. He builds lego towers with them and wi bowls downstairs with them. He makes his "famous" grilled cheese sandwiches for them and they have picnics in the back yard with red koolaid. Hes retired now and has time to do these things. And it's beautiful.

The role of Father is a sacred title. It's one that I think is being diminished daily by the world and society. I am grateful for fathers who care. For men that stand up for those they love. A few weeks ago I got to spend some time with one of my brothers. He has a little baby girl that is gorgeous and I was watching him hold her the other day. She was smiling and giggling and loving him. And he her. I never would have imagined how grateful I am for brothers that take their responsibility to be a father seriously. All of my brothers that have children have shown similar love for their children and I can't help but respect them a little more for how amazing they are. They take the time and opportunity to raise their children and spend time with them. To teach their kids right from wrong and how to be amazing people.

I have friends that don't have dad's in their life either by choice, or not. It breaks my heart to think of anyone not having a dad. So, if you have a dad in your life think about how lucky you are! Think about how amazing your life is!!

More than one of my friends has lost their father far too early in life and my heart hurts for them. It can't be easy. And I don't have the words to bring peace. But I do love you.

Since it is father's day weekend, I hope that we can all take the time to reflect one how great fathers are. And be grateful for all the fathers in our lives, whether they are our fathers, the fathers of our children, someone who stepped in when we needed a father, whatever the case may be, I hope we can recognize the importance of fathers this weekend. And every day.

Other Writing Gems

Hey friends!! So, I have been working on my blog lately, in case you didn't notice, I completely changed the layout and and trying to make this looks super snazzy and stuff.

Any way, I had about 5 blogs and have condensed them down to 3 total. This one, obviously, is for me and my writing and is more focused on Soozee Carmichael and all that goes into being me.

The second is one that I started three years ago and never really kept up on. It's a fictitious character named Raleigh Christensen. She lives in Provo, UT and has some crazy adventures. Also, she just met the most amazing guy named Hollander. It's pretty funny. My mom laughed when I let her read my most recent post. It's pretty great. The link for that blog is:

confessionsofahappyvalleygirl.blogspot.com

And the third blog is a new one that a friend suggest I start about six months ago. I finally feel that I have time and am really dedicated to making it great. If we're friends on FaceBook then you know that whenever it is the birthday of a famous person I like or admire, I post about how I will be baking something awesome to celebrate while watching/reading/listening to whatever they do for a living. So, my friend suggested that I start a blog for this and see if we can get a following for it, which would be awesome. My first post will go live on Monday, June 13th when we celebrate Chris Evan's birthday. It's going to be great fun and I highly recommend just checking it out after I start posting. That blog can be found at:

starstruckbaking.blogspot.com

This also means that I have taken down the blog I started as my fake British assistant, Emmalee Fairfax, which is unfortunate, but I also hadn't posted anything in 3 years, so I'm pretty sure no one will even notice....

Let me know what y'all think of my writing. Go check out my other blogs and just have some fun!!

That We May Never Forget

June 6th, 1944 is a day that I doubt will ever be truly forgotten, and it shouldn't be. Over memorial day I had the thought to write this post but didn't have the time to do it justice, so I'm making up for lost time. Especially since my thoughts coincide with D Day.

When I was young I had to write a report for a class. I was assigned to interview someone who had lived through a historic event, or something like that. I don't remember why I had to do the assignment, I just know that my mom encouraged me to talk to her dad.

My grandfather was a soldier in World War I I and was sent to Normandy in June 1944. He arrived a few days after D Day. He told me that as they reached the shore you could smell the death that washed over those shores. You could feel the tension in the air and as he looked across the blood stained beach at all the men left there, it didn't matter what side they were in. They were gone now. Both sides lost men. Both sides fought with all they had.

As the days progressed, my grandfather kept fighting and one day was out on patrol. German soldiers came up on them and started shooting. My grandfather put his hand on his helmet and one point and was shot. To this day, he still can't bend his finger completely, but if he hadn't had his hand on his helmet, he would have died. Instead, he was sent to Switzerland to recover and was then sent to work in several Allied offices until his tour was completed.

Because of his time in Switzerland, my grandfather loves clocks. He said that he fell in love with the Black Forest Cuckoo clocks. He couldn't afford one at the time, being a poor soldier, but he always wanted one. This was something I grew up knowing about my grandfather without knowing where he'd gained a love of clocks.

Upon his return home, my grandfather was met at the bus station by his best friend who had also been to war. He is filled with emotion as he talks about the mountains of Utah behind him and his friend waiting to greet him. He knew he had made it back home. He knew that he would be alright now. That the worst was behind him.

There is something about the Rocky Mountains that is unmistakably peaceful. Though they tower over my hometown, they seem like gentle giants guarding my family and home.

I can relate to my grandfather in some ways. I know the feeling of home that resides in the valleys of Utah. I have felt the relief of coming home from a long journey. I have not felt the fear or grief that comes with war. And I hope that we can all take a few minutes to contemplate the sacrifice of so many men and women through out all of our country's history that allow us the freedoms we have today. Without them, this country would not know the joys of freedom and peace. Thank you.