As I was out running yesterday with my friend, Becky, she mentioned it was her first Father's Day without her dad...who passed away in February. She talked about how strange it was not to buy a card or see her dad on this special day set aside to honor fathers. I could only agree with her...although I have been without my father for much longer.

As Father's Day approaches, my thoughts turn often to my dad. You see, his birthday was June 17, so we sometimes celebrated both of these special days together. I miss him...it's as plain as that. I was so blessed to have a dad who deeply loved me and each of his children and grandchildren. His love was unconditional and I never doubted it....even when he lined we four children up one time and spanked our palms with a Mary Carter paint stick! I can't remember now what we had all done to misbehave...but that's how Dad dealt with it that day.

I miss Dad's smile...

I miss Dad's encouragement and delight...I remember when I showed Dad my letter of acceptance into UW's graduate program in Education...he actually grabbed my hand and danced a little jig!

I miss Dad's insight...he was a man of the Word...he knew it, lived it, modeled it.

I miss Dad's letters...while I was in college in Minnesota, he wrote faithfully every week. Whenever he traveled, he kept us all up to date with letters like these.

I miss Dad's love of adventure and travel...he delighted in new experiences, meeting people of other cultures.

Dad and his brother, Ralph, talking about their travels...

I miss Dad's love of fresh ideas...always encouraging us to think outside the box and look at things from another perspective.

I miss Dad's artistic eye...a sculptor and lover of art.

I miss Dad's life long search to see the Spirit of God alive in His people...

I miss Dad's love of learning...a voracious reader and excelled at foreign languages....he could speak and read five with a fair degree of fluency.

I miss Dad's generous spirit...giving, far more than receiving.

I could go on and on...but I'll stop here. On his tombstone are the words of II Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." I'm just so thankful for a Dad who clearly modeled a life of faith and the Father's love for me. I will miss him always...and look forward to a joyful reunion one day.