Happy Birthday Dear Dad

For Dad's 74th birthday, I decided to surprise him and fly home to celebrate with him.
I was fortunate to have gorgeous weather and the beginning of some gorgeous leaves too.
This is my favorite maple tree just beginning the change for winter.

NY was crispy, and bright as it should be. I loved going into the woods with Dad-walking, on the tractor, and running while I was there. I loved spending time with my Dad.
Thanks to my husband and the amazing Nana and Papa, I was able to afford going to NY without my kids. The flight was cheap, and especially so without buying two other tickets. The kids had a terrific time and I rather enjoyed reading a book on the plane, from cover to cover. WOW. It was FUN to travel again. Thank you Mom and Dad!



There are always projects to work on at Dad's house. It is more a question of which ones do I do first and which ones can wait for the next sister to come visit.
We decided to get up and clean out the new gutters and put on the gutter covers since Karyn did such a great job painting all of the eaves in August. Dad doesn't like heights anymore, but he did great. I hope I am that nimble and strong when I am 74.

This is from the garage roof. Dad was going to feed his pet/wild birds. They knock on the window at him when they run out of food. Kind of like the deer that come up 10 ft from the house in winter asking for more corn...

One of my favorite places in the world is the Sacred Grove. I had the pleasure of going there and just LOVED the day. The bright blue sky, the scarlet and gold leaves, the heavenly spirit that you feel just walking towards the sacred ground. I feel a bit of euphoria every time I go. I LOVE being there and remembering how answers to my prayers have shaped and changed my life. I love feeling that God is my Father, who knows me, and still loves me. always.







Another of my favorite places is the temple. I love going to the temple in Palmyra and seeing my father there. Really, seeing him so happy is a delight of mine. He is as joyful about the temple as a kid is about his favorite toy.
I owe my father a great deal. He has taught me to love sacred things, especially the House of the Lord.

As I think of the love I have for the temple I am reminded that my love for my father has only grown the love I feel for my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for my father and for all I know because of his example of faith in the Savior and his trust in Heavenly Father having a plan for each of us.
On the less eternal side of things...
We did have some yummy dinner out at a ritzy place for his birthday. He let me buy him a hamburger on his big day, while another night he took me to a four star dinner. So dad!
I also made some of his favorite foods-pepper steak, stir fry, tapioca, lemon blossoms, etc while Dad read to me from President Monson's biography. We laughed, cried, worked hard, and ate well together. Love you always dad. Thanks for always teaching me and loving me.