Car Rides with my Dad

So, I've talked about my mom on here and how great she is, but I don't think I've ever mentioned my dad! What was I thinking?!

So...
Yesterday, my dad and I were driving up to Bremen to visit with my grandma. Sometimes our rides are kind of quiet (especially on a Sunday afternoon when we're tired...and probably shouldn't have been driving)! But this ride was different. We just started talking about life and all that's been going on. Then we started reminiscing about things. My dad shared with me memories of his dad and stories of what he admired most about him. And well...it just got me thinking about the things I admire in my dad.

My dad has got to be one of the most spiritually sensitive guys I know. He could give you story after story of God's faithfulness in his life and recounts many of them with tear-filled eyes because of how He's seen God move.

My dad is a faithful prayer warrior. Growing up I remember finding my dad out in the living room early in the morning kneeling down praying. Every day he would pray for me, my sisters, and my mom. Every situation that I faced, my dad was praying. Every time I was away from home, my dad was praying. Anytime I ask him to specifically be in prayer about something, I know that he will!

My dad loves God's Word. Growing up, I also remember finding my dad out at the dining room table just studying the Word. In our family prayer times, he would often pray scripture. He's constantly soaking it in...and not simply reading it for the sake of reading it. He encourages me with scripture almost every time I see him! Seeing his relationship with Christ lived out has spoken more to me than anything he's ever verbally told me about it.

My dad is incredibly gifted! He's an engineer, so putting things together & taking things apart is something he loves. He loves to build things...which is where I get it from. Even when I was little, I can remember my dad letting me help him in the shop or build stuff out of his scrap wood. Every once in a while, we still work on projects together. I'm convinced that he can fix or build just about anything!

My dad leads by example. He doesn't preach at you...he shows you. He's had many opportunities to share with the guys he works with about his faith because they see a difference in him...they ask him what's different! He recognizes the importance of living out the same faith every single day...not just on Sunday or Wednesday.

There's so many things I love and admire about my dad. I'm so thankful for him and thankful for all that he has taught me. He's not perfect, but I'm confident I couldn't have asked for a better earthly father.