...a real live fairy tale

once upon a time there was a family who lived at the base of a very 

beautiful mountain.  they were a very busy family with three small 

rough and tumble boys.  after spending many years in school moving 

from utah to baltimore to san francisco to montana to boston...

they finally settled into a home all their own, resting in the shadows of the

wasatch peaks.  all was well.  one day the family was talking and felt that 

although this new home was indeed wonderful...something was missing.

their home needed a little girl.

so they waited and they waited and they waited.

years passed and one day the call came, a new baby girl needed a family.

and that was the beginning of a fairy tale childhood for me.

but this particular chapter of the story is about me and my dad.

i have the best dad in the whole wide world.

i never knew my dad with hair.  maybe that.s why i love bald men?

i spent more time on his shoulders than i ever did on the ground.

my dad is tall and i always felt secure and "big" when he was holding me.

{that.s important when you have three big brothers}

but my dad always took time to come down to my level too.  

we read and played dolls and i.m sure i combed what little hair he had.

my dad is a whiz with a pen.  always a poem at every event. 

 a note just to tell me he loved me and that i was a-ok in his book.

the best were his scavenger hunts {especially when there is a car at the end}

my dad took time to play with me. finding things i liked to do and joining in.

the best was one christmas morning when i awoke to find two "real"motorcycles

in the living room from "santa" with those cheesy plastic license plates

that said "howie" and "tina".

{my real name is christina...guess they were all out of chrissy.s}

i never figured out how santa got those in the house past my mom.

...and now 40 something years later...the fairy tale continues.

my dad is such a presence in my life.

even 640.35 miles can.t separate our bond.

i am so grateful for this man.  

he taught me how to work hard....and play harder.

he has taught me faith, honesty, integrity, to serve others and to be true.

he showed me how to "love" as he adored my mom until the day she died.

{and still does}

happy fathers day dad.

thank you for teaching me to cul*ti*vate all the good things in life!