a man of many phrases

dad is a lot of wonderful things (as we’ve heard from madi & anna). he’s willing to help anyone, he’s hard working, he’s thoughtful, sweet, affectionate, & absolutely hilarious. 

he’s also a man of many phrases. 

there are several phrases i heard growing up that are burned into my brain & that i would now like to share with all of you: 

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1. “we don’t kick, we don’t bite, and we don’t say shut up” we were told this often when we were younger. it feels pretty self explanatory so i won’t go into too much detail. just know that there was no kicking, biting or saying shut up. 

2. “ehhhh quit that” another very self explanatory phrase. this one is special due to the delivery, the volume, and the tone more so than the content. it startles you and genuinely makes you want to quit whatever you’re doing.

3. “if you tell someone you’re going to do something, you do it” i have yet to witness dad not do something that he said he would. a man’s word means a lot to him & it should mean a lot to others bc i promise if dad tells you something, it’s absolutely true. 

4. “go give hugs & kisses” these words were spoken on sunday afternoons after family dinner and before we would leave mamaw & papaws house. there was no chance that we were leaving that place without hugging & kissing everyone in the living room.

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one of my favorite phrases to hear growing up actually didn’t come from dad (sorry dad). it came from extended family, friends, parents of friends, church leaders, coaches, ex boyfriends, teachers & even trusted hairdressers. 

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   5. “you have the best dad in the world”

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i don’t think dad is aware of how many people have not only noticed the amount of time, effort & love that he pours into being a father but felt strongly enough about it to make a comment to me. 

i hate to be that girl but i do have the best dad in the world. i feel bad for the rest of you, i really do. i mean that in the nicest way possible. 

even though this ‘best dad in the world’ phrase has been long lasting & unchanging, since being home, i’ve noticed that it’s been replaced with a new phrase. one that i’ve grown to enjoy hearing. 

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   6. “your dad is so happy”

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now, to most of you, phrases five and six may not sound all that different. 

but i assure you that they’re very different.  

i’ve always been told that i have the best dad in the world because people around me could see all the energy & thought being put into raising me & my siblings. he’s the best dad in the world because he cares enough about me, to do what it takes for me to be happy. what more can you ask of a parent?

don’t get me wrong, i still believe that he’s the best dad in the world & so do lots of other people. but since meeting heather, the thing people can’t stop noticing about dad is how happy he is. 

this is not because people can see the intricacies of their efforts to one another or because dad explains his thought process regarding his relationship to everyone he meets. 

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it’s because he gets excited to match his tie with someone’s dress on sunday. 

it’s because our sunday supper table has an even number of couples. 

it’s because more cakes get cooked in our new kitchen. 

it’s because he stays out later on the weekends hanging out with family friends. 

it’s because music is played louder & smiles are bigger. 

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you would have to be blind to not notice how much happier dad has been since heather came into his life. 

dad & heathers relationship isn’t special or unique because they’re doing things that qualify their relationship to be “the best in the world”

their relationship is special & unique because they make each other so happy. 

i would love to grow to become what one would consider the “best mom in the world” or “the best wife in the world” or even “the best speech giver in the world” 

but something i would love even more than that is for the people around me to notice how happy i am with life. 

heather makes dad happy & i don’t think there’s anything more important than that.