As a little girl, I always secretly loved that my middle name was the same as my father – Dale. My full name is Gillian Dale Clair. I’m not sure why that was such a big deal to me – after all, it is not the most girliest name on the planet but it always held special meaning to be named after my daddy.
This Father’s Day, I want to dedicate this post to my dad …
Who worked hard at his construction business through my entire childhood to provide a future for his family.
Who stared bankruptcy in the face in his early 20s and overcame it with an amazing fight and has now become a successful businessman.
Who packed up his family – three noisy, bouncy kids and one gorgeous wife – and drove across Canada in the muggy heat of summer to start a new life and a new job.
Who taught me to clean the bathroom at age five (I still remember him with the Mr. Clean bottle in his hands – probably the one and only time he’s cleaned the bathroom! Hee hee!)
Who built the coolest ever playhouse for me and my sister and brother – complete with a slide coming down off the roof.
Who taught my sister, brother and I how to shoot down Little People during a rubber elastic war.
Who knew how to throw a wicked water fight.
Who made me practice baseball over and over – so I wouldn’t throw like a girl (I still do – sorry, dad).
Who made me shovel the driveaway so clean that the pavement showed through the snow (just teasing you, dad!)
Who made me Digger #2 – while building his workshop in the backyard in the country.
Who trusted me to flip the switch every morning on our septic tank in the country. Big job. Still not sure why he trusted me. It did just what you thought it would do. Yuck.
Who, I think, convinced my mom to get our family dog, Jake. I loved Jake so much & still miss him.
Who taught me that tithing is an amazing form of worship and act of obedience to God.
Who made sure my sister and I dressed modestly during those scary teenager years. (Again, thankful for that!)
Who took me on my first date at age 13. I fell asleep. Sorry, dad.
Who didn’t yell at me when I backed up my first car into his work van on foggy morning on my way to my Tim Horton’s job.
Who made sure I paid for the damage I inflicted on his work van while backing out one foggy morning on my way to Tim Horton’s job.
Who paid me to clean out his work van so I could pay off my debts.
Who came to my college graduation and cheered me on.
Who met Abby and didn’t even question the fact that we wanted to get married after four months of dating.
Who gave me away at my wedding.
Who celebrated the birth of his three grand daughters with pride.
Who still gives amazing advice for my problems when I ask.
Who has loved my beautiful mother for the past 33 years and has remained faithful in a world where marriages fall apart as easily as they begin.
Who still to this day is the wiset man I know.
I love you, dad. Thank you for being you and for being the most amazing dad ever.
Love your daughter,
Gillian xo
by Gigi
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