My Dad is "Still the One"

My Dad is way cooler than any Dad on the planet.  I am a little biased though, I know. 

I was thinking about my Dad the yesterday when I was driving down the road.  I was thinking about Disney World and how for my 14th birthday he gave me what he promised he would give me on my 13th birthday (better late than never).  He took me on a trip to Disney World, just the two of us.  We had a lot of fun.  A couple things that stick out in my mind the most are riding the Dumbo Ride, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain and It's A Small World, the Winnie the Pooh key chain he got me (which I of course still have) and eating at UNO.   OH!  And coming home to Atlanta in an ice storm, not able to get home, having to WALK to his office downtown and sleep on the floor!! :)

We flew down there and spent a couple of days at Disney.  We had a blast.  It was the only true "Daddy/Daughter" trip we ever took and I am so glad that we did.  I vaguely remember over hearing conversations before the trip (kids have ears every where and I have BIG ears and an even BIGGER memory).  Dad loves to squeeze the Abraham Lincoln off of all of his pennies.

Real example of a conversation I had with Dad one day:

ME: (crying) "Sniff*Sniff*... Daaaad."

DAD: "Yes, what is wrong"

ME: "Sniff*Sniff*.... Rosie (my puppy) has mange."

DAD: "Wow. That sounds expensive."

ME: "DAAAAD"

Sweet Rosie Lou when she was little and had mange....

Long Story short here....keep following me - this will all tie together at the end.  I am very paranoid about squeezing two Abraham Lincoln's out of my pennies.  Some of it I get from growing up with Dad but some of it is also because I am a control freak worry wart.

Wade gets onto me a lot for my paranoia.  I get worried about this or that and how if we don't save 5 million dollars by next month we will be living in a cardboard box for the rest of our lives and our kids won't even know what shoes are.  Wade can bring me back down a notch.

Enter Dad and Disney.  I was thinking about the trip Dad and I took to Disney and how much that meant to me.  I got to thinking about all of the fun things Dad and I did with the family growing up.  We took road trips...

Went on fun family vacations.... (Williamsburg VA here)

We played hard, leaving dad very very sleepy.....

We had fun going to the mountains together...

All of our trips to the mountains may be the root of why I love the mountains so much.

We had fun hanging around the house together....

Watching the tube....

And bedtime stories were always a treat when Dad would read them to me.

We enjoyed our time together at church too and our love for music...

The trip to Disney was extra special because he did it for me, to make me feel special and it was just the two of us.  We didn't take any pictures, but I wish we had.  It was a great trip.

You hear your parents say things to you growing up about how they don't want you to make the same mistakes as they did.  How they want you to have a better life than they did and to learn from what they teach you and from lessons they have learned.

Remembering the Disney trip with Dad reminding me of a "lecture" I have given Dad about not doing things and going on trips.  What good are your "riches" on earth when you are 6 feet under.  Your riches should be in heaven.

It really dawned on me what my hang up is with IVF.  The money.  Wade and I JUST got situated where all of our debt has been paid off (minus student loans, car and house of course) and what a relief that is!  Go back to my comment about saving 5 million dollars.

Well - I am going to take my Dad's advice that he was giving me in this picture right here....

"Don't screw it up".  (Thanks for the vote of confidence!)

So what I am not going to screw up is an opportunity to have a child because I am so worried about the cost, ridiculous 5 million dollar goals and storing my riches here on earth.  My riches will be my family, raising them "right", and having them know all the wonderful things I know about my Dad before the time has gone by and it is too late.

I would not trade that Disney trip, as expensive as it may have been, for anything in this world, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my Dad wouldn't either.  Moral of the story, be smart with your finances, but don't stop living because of them.  One step at a time, Wade and I will reach our goal....and to quote what my Dad was saying to me in this picture....

"It's Show Time!" (Yes - he really did quote Beetlejuice right before he walked me down the aisle)

Thanks Dad, for teaching me even when you didn't know you were, and having a little fun along the way. 

Dancing to "We're still having fun... 'cause your still the one"

I love you Dad and I know our children will too!

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
(Refrain)