A Father's Love

I know that over the past few days Facebook has been bombarded with father pictures.  Some of the dad's are no longer with us and others are new dads.  All in all it makes for a very emotional day.  Father's Day is bittersweet for me.  I lost my dad in 2009 and miss him very much.  He was an amazing father and the memories are sweet.  One thing I can honestly say about my dad is that I have no regrets.  I am fortunate that I got to spend a great deal of time with this man....good and bad.  Letting him go was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.  So today I want you to see the faces of Doug.  The first man I ever loved.

This is the first man to own my heart.  He was one handsome dude.  I always thought he looked like Tennessee Ernie Ford.  I know he sang like him.  He was the love of my mother's life. 

Dougie and I with Daddy in our back yard.  As you can see this was back before dryers.  Is he not the most handsomest man ever?

Daddy getting a birthday kiss from Elizabeth McLeod. 

Running the Talladega 500 with Ronnie as they put together Eric's Santa Claus in 1976.  I think they wore it out before Eric ever played with it. 

Daddy and Susan Price in Knoxville.  Jan and Scott's high school band was marching in a Veteran's Day parade.



My father was a grillmaster.  Here he is at Claude's annual cookout.

He loved antiques and here he is trying to figure out a post office box I got him for Christmas.  He actually figured out the lock to open it.  He was an amazing Grandfather too!  Christina definitely thought so.  He ruled her world when she was little.

My dad and Debbie Mask(my sister from another set of parents) at Kellyton Baptist Church's Old Fashioned Sunday.   Were they not precious?  The picture below is in 2000.  It is Austen (Jenifer's son), Daddy, Eric and his son Hayden, and Ronnie at my apartment around Christmas time.

Daddy's 80th birthday in 2006.  He is surrounded by my cousins, Gary, Mark, Rob, and Jerry.

Momma, Daddy and Kat after he was diagnosed with cancer the last time.  The last picture of my dad made at my mom's 80th birthday in July of 2009.  He died in October.  I miss this man and yesterday was just a reminder of how much.
 

There are other men in my life. 

At my dad's funeral we were all together again.  My cousin Judy and her brother Jeff (father of Bridget and John), my cousin Sherry (mother of Brandy), My cousin Jerry (father of Tony, Tonya, and Jennifer), me, My cousin Mark (father of Matt and Kelly), my cousin Barry (father of Jeremy and Todd), and my cousin Rob (father of Bobbie Lee and Christine).  Gary was not in the picture.  He is the father of Dawn.  These guys are great dads and I am so proud of all of them. 

There are a few more special dads in my life that I want to mention.....

Frank (father of Amy). Frank is doing a beach baby dedication for Magen and Keaton's son Jett. 

At the beach - 2013.



Niece Kelly, Frank, and daughter, Amy at a wedding in Fort Walton.  Below is the our daughter Amy and her husband Steven with our granddaughter, Amelia. 

Frank and Amy at Hurlbert.



Frank and Kat working the Moldova yard sale.

Son, Eric and his precious family (Taylor Bug, Hayden, granddaughter B, wife Roulain, Hannah and B's mom Jasmine.  Below is a man I always thought of as my second dad, Mr. Harland Geiger (and his beautiful wife, Valerie).    His daughter Carol is one of my dearest and oldest friends.





Kat's Godfather Chuck is one of the best guys I know.  He is one of my dearest friends and when I asked them to be godparents for my daughter they did not hesitate.  He has always been an amazing role model for my daughter and I love him with all my heart.






upper picture - Kat is 1 month old.  lower picture was taken when Frank and I got married.

There are a lot of dads in my life....I may not have mentioned you in my little trip down memory lane but you are important to me.  I hope today is a wonderful day for you.

A Father's Day Tribute

I got up this morning to write this post about my dad, yet as I sat here I had so much more to say so please excuse my ramblings and understand that these guys are/were important in my life.  The first man in my life was my daddy.  I loved him dearly and like most little girls thought he was the most handsome man on the face of the earth.  I became who I am because of this man (and my momma too).  He taught me how to love, be loved, share, tll a good story, but most of all he taught me to love God.  My father was a Christian and when it was time to leave this earthly home I had no doubt of where he would be going.  My father loved and cared for people.  He was an amazing man.  He had the prettiest white hair, the most infectious smile/laugh, strong hands, a wonderful hug....and a story for everything. 

(my dad is on the right and Bob Berry is on the left)

(Tenessee Ernie Ford look alike - my dad on Georgia Avenue)

(my brother Dougie, my dad, and me)

 

(back row - cousins:  Garry, Mark, Rob, Jerry - front row  my dad at his 80th birthday party.)

The second man in my life is my son, Eric.  He is the father of my grandchildren and he is a very special young man.  I love him dearly too.  I married his dad when he was almost five but before we married Eric had wound his hand around my heart and he would hold on to it forever.  He is fun to be with, loving, hard working, a loving father and husband, andbut most of all he is a Christian.  He accepted Christ last Father's Day in my father's church, Kellyton Baptist.  He called me in Canada to let me know what he had done and I have been so very impressed with who he has become.  I like to think I had a small part in him becoming the man he is today.  I adore him.

 

 

The next important guy in my life is Stephen, our son-in-law.  He is in the military and he and our daughter, Amy live in Fort Walton Beach.  They are new parents and their precious sweetheart Amelia will be one in July.  He is funny, hard working, loves games, a family man, is a good dad, a loving husband, and just an all around great guy.  I enjoy his company and his stories. 

The last guy on my list of favorites for today is my special guy.  He is my precious husband, Frank.  I love him dearly.  He is funny, passionate about his God, people, and his scroll saw work, talented, an amazing cook, loving, a good dad, a wonderful husband.  He is my best friend.  He makes traveling fun and always has a good story or two to tell.  I am amazed when I sit in his church as one of his congregation and listen to him preach.  He is a Christian.  If I had to pick a man who was near to what my daddy was.....it would be Frank.  He touches lives just like my dad did.  I am a truly blessed woman.

(Frank and brother, Bill - Aunt Kay and mom, Connie)

(Frank and Holly)

(Dancing for applause at the fair)

(niece, Kelly, Frank, and daughter Amy)

(Preacherman)

(Traveling buddy in our new ride)

I would be remiss to say that these are the only Fathers in my life.  There are so many more and I wish I could tell you about each one of them and their impact on my life....but time is slipping away and it is getting close to time for me to go and worship my Heavenly Father.  Happy Father's Day to all dads out there.  I hope you have a wonderful day....get breakfast in bed....and do what you want to do.....but most of all....spend time with the ones you love. 

Happy Father's Day Guys!

Today is Father's Day and for the second time I am not spending my time looking through mushing or funny Father's Day cards because I don't have a dad to send one too.  I have been avoiding the card section at Walmart like the plague.  I did think it would be a positive thing if I posted about Father's Day.  The next three men are very important dad's in my life. 

Fred Douglas Sasser (4.14.1926 - 9.9.2009)

I wish you could have all known my dad.  He was a very special man and I adored him.  He loved to hunt and fish.  He loved his family.  He loved his Lord.  He definitely walked the walk and talked the talk.  Best memory of my dad.....rabbit kisses.  He was famous for them.  I'd give anything for one right now.

Frank Edmund Korb (5.9.1957)

The second man is my wonderful husband, Frank.  He is one of the neatest men you will ever meet.  He is funny, sincere, compassionate, a huge hockey and FSU fan, loving, a true people person if there ever was one.  He is a hard worker.  I would class him as not only my husband but one of my best friends.  I enjoy being with him.  He is the father of our Amy and loves my children as much as his own.  I wish everyone could meet him personally....he would have you in stitches in no time.  I love this man with all my heart.

Eric Michael Harrell (8.13.1970)

This is my son, Eric. He was not born under my heart....he was born in it. He and his sister, Jenifer became my children the day I married their day.  Eric was 5.   He is a precious person.  He has two children....Hayden (who is a Down's Syndrome) and Hannah Ruth (who was born at 26 weeks weighing in at 15 ounces).  He is an amazing father and loves his kids.  He is a single dad and is currently living in my mom's house.  He has worked hard to get it to where it was liveable.  He has a great sense of humor and is a loving guy.  I am blessed to have him in my life. 
I am a lucky lady to have/have had three such wonderful Father's in my life.  I wish all Father's out there a wonderful and happy Father's Day!