Trophy Dad

You've heard of Trophy Wives, right? Well many of you know I had my very own Trophy Dad. No, he didn't have massive pecs or a chiseled chin (but he is quite handsome). Instead he became my Trophy after a race between my brother Bill and me. Many of you may recall my term for Wade in my younger days, "Troph". This came about after a camping trip to Timpanogus Cave the summer before 3rd grade. You see Bill and I were once again competing (and teasing) with each other when we decided to have a race around our campsite. Bill was under the erroneous belief that we were racing to some random destination when I clearly indicated we would be racing to our father. Our father would be the prize or the 'Trophy'. Needless to say, I won and my dad became my Trophy or my "Troph". The name would stick for many years to come and he's always been my prize father.

In honor of Father's Day I thought I would share a few things he's taught me over the years...

-If you are going to work at something, make it your best. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.

-You can do anything you put your mind to.

-Presentation of food is 90% of the taste (he encouraged my love for cooking).

-Love your pets. Take good care of them.

-Generosity.

-Perseverance. You're going to fall off that horse in life. Better get right back up there.

-Education. Not only did he encourage me to get the most education I could, he helped finance it. In fact he called it a "full ride scholarship...parental that is".

-Choose your friends carefully.

-Loyalty.

-How to pray. And most importantly, how to thank my Father in Heaven for answers to prayers.

-He inspired me to learn and to actually enjoy it. He read to me countless hours as a child, from all kinds of books. I learned about history, characters from the scriptures, Big Dan and Little Ann and Laura Ingalls Wilder.

-How to fish.

-Hard work.

Happy Father's Day Troph! I love you!