Grateful Sunday

Me and my Daddy, Balboa Island, August 1981. I keep this photo in a frame next to our guest bed. I love it!

Today, I am grateful for:

• my dad and the loving influence he has been in my life. I am so blessed to have the parents that I have. I have countless memories from my childhood involving happiness, abounding love and sincere concern. I know that my parents love me because they tell me that they do. They always have and I have always known it. I love you, Dad!
• Neal, the daddy of my children. They have so much fun with him. He is crazy, happy, and silly. All of the things that make Daddies so great. I am so blessed to have found Neal almost 15 years ago in that sea of single people (Provo).
• time in the temple with Neal yesterday. It was not easy to get there (basically, the freeways in and around Dallas have completely exploded and have made general travel nearly impossible). The route to the temple is now, literally, nearly impenetrable. So not only is it difficult to go because it's always difficult to go to the temple, now you really just can't get there. BUT, we did make it and spent some time with lovely people from our ward. A dear friend, named Scott, went through the temple for the first time and we were so honored to be there with him.
• Parker's attitude about baseball. He has not been on a winning team this year, to put it nicely. As one mom yesterday said of their complete lack of wins, "We are defeated." But Parker consistently gives it his all and has great games. Maybe the rest of the team isn't having such a good game, but Parker is succeeding. On to the next season! We are ready to be done with this team.
• a successful Father's Day Pie Fest hosted by the Senior Primary today at the end of church. We had lots of pies prepared and lots of helping hands. I expect the kids to get a little bit out of their comfort zones and approach and serve dads in the ward who may not be their own. They did a great job!