A letter written, by Shae, for Dad’s birthday on December 5, 2012.
Dear Dad,
I want to let you know how very much I love you and how thankful I am to have you as my father. There has never been a doubt in my mind that you absolutely adore me and think I am amazing! That’s a pretty good foundation for a girl to build her life on. Thank you.
You have always had such a happy, sunshiny outlook on life, and it has blessed my life. You always smile and keep going–no matter what. If its the cows that need milking at 4 in the morning, an emotional daughter to deal with or a business to recover–you just keep going. Even through some of your very toughest times, you may have felt down, but nothing has ever kept you down. Your amazing mind starts swirling with ideas of how to fix, comfort, build, create something new to replace that which was lost, and off you go again, with a smile on your face, and joy and light beaming from you, wherever you go.
Then, there is your great love and tenderness for Mom. Because of your example, I knew what to look for in a husband! (I did really well, didn’t I?) Knowing your parents absolutely adore each other, never hearing an angry word between them and seeing them going off to the Laundry Room to lovingly, humorously solve any differences they might have, is also an amazing foundation for a girl to build her life on as well. I have the same kind of marriage, because I knew what to look for and I know how to keep love and understanding and humor in all we do.
Then, there is your deep, abiding love and faith in Heavenly Father and His Son. I remember, one time when I was around 8, wandering around outside the Gunn house, among the beloved trees, and thinking, “I know Heavenly Father is Real and so is Jesus, and so is the gospel, because my Mom and Dad know it is”. Then, I thought,” I also know it all for myself as well.” You were my testimony training wheels, until I could start riding on my own. (although, I know there were many times when you still had a guiding, protecting hand on my back, as I pedaled along.) That same day, as I wandered and pondered, I thought, “Since I know, then I need to always do what is right. I also need to be patient with others, because a lot of them don’t know for themselves.” Thank you for providing the kind of home that allowed me to learn those things at such a young age.
Thank you for your gospel teachings and discussions and family prayer and scripture study and diligent, loving service in the church. Thank you for how lovingly you serve others, from nursery children to grouchy people. Thank you for always loving beauty and always being willing to stop and smell the flowers. I love that you and Mom will, most often, take the beautiful way, even if it means more driving and time. I loved our family trips and drives because of that. I also always loved your stories and insights as we drove along as well. Who needs book on tape when you’ve got such an entertaining Dad?
Thank you for literally glowing, wherever you go. You often have a little extra happy spring in your step, a smile on your face and bring sunshine with you. Thank you for all of the wonderful camping, backpacking, skiing and love for the outdoors. Thank you for touch football games, charade, yelling contests, hide and go seek, horses, decorating the Christmas tree, water fights, eating green apples right off the tree with salt, the Blazer, skippy days and on and on.
Thank you for teaching me to work hard and being patient with me. I’m sure I never worked quite as hard as I thought I was, but left home thinking myself a hard worker and eventually really became one. Thank you for raising me to think that going to College was a matter of fact–there was no doubt I would and did. (and thank you for your invaluable financial help ) Your love for learning and knowledge has always been an inspiration to me.
Thank you for being a wonderful Grandpa, Great Grandpa and Father-in-Law.
I have truly thought, my whole life, that I have the very best dad possible. I have never, ever thought otherwise. I had a heavenly, happy childhood. Thank you, more than I can ever say.
Love, Shae