DADDY - He never hesitated to change diapers, give bottles or baths. He could fix anything from dolls, games, bikes, even broken hearts. He taught his daughters how to throw a ball, catch with a mitt, the proper way to hold a bat. He even taught them how to say the word, "Why"! (Daddy, can I go outside? "Why?" Daddy, can I have a dollar for lunch? "Why?" Daddy, the toilet is plugged-up! "Why?")
He took them on their first motorcycle ride, and taught them how to ride a bicycle and drive a car. He wasn't interested in stopping at the bar after work; he wanted to go home and be with his family. He always went to Open House at their schools, Parent/Teacher Conferences, plays, concerts, and school functions. He worried about his girls - when they were ill, when they were sad; when they started driving he paced the floor if they were five minutes past curfew! After a few times of waiting for Kent bus to arrive (which was ALWAYS late), he decided to start driving Hollie back and forth to Kent on weekends himself.
He helped each girl buy her first car,and gave them their first monthly bill to pay. He showed them how to put gas in the car, fill the windshield wiper reservoir, check the air in the tires (although I don't think any of his girls got the hang of that one!). He said "I told you to watch your speed" when they got their first speeding ticket, and found the best place to hang on to when he was the passenger and they were the driver.
He welcomed each son-in-law into our family warmly, but with firm warning that he would come looking for them if they ever hurt his Jennifer, Hollie, Amy. He told everyone that his family consists of six "kids" once they were all married. He knows what sports the guys like, what kind of work they do, the make of their cars. He is always willing to lend a hand, but tries hard not to impose on their time or space. He respects their opinions, but is not afraid to give them his.
PAPA - He still changes diapers, gives bottles and baths, and can fix anything! His TV remote is highly respected, and his DVR is filled with Toy Story, Wonder Pets, Backyardigans, Tinkerbell, trains, and cars. His chair and his lap is the best place to watch TV or take a nap. His swing is the best and he comes up with the best "swinging" songs. He makes "work" fun, can turn tears into laughter, has the best trains. His garage has riding cars and bubbles, and he now understands that sidewalk chalk is okay to use on the driveway and patio. He cooks awesome pancakes and scrambled eggs, lets his grandkids stay up past their bedtime, and will not hesitate to take their side against their moms. He gives hugs and kisses freely, looks for the moon for and with each grandchild, and grandkid-sits more than any grandfather I know. He proudly tells anyone who will listen that he now has 11 "kids" plus one on the way.
Sometimes I think back to the day in Bob Evans when Leonard said to me, "I know the girls are grown-up now and don't need me like they used to, but I still want to be here for them." It was March of 2003, we had just come from the doctors, and although the colonoscopy was still a few weeks down the road, we both kinda knew that the results were not going to be good.
We almost lost our husband and daddy that year to cancer. I know that God, the doctors, and the many prayers that were said for Leonard during that horrible time played a part in his recovery, but in the end, I believe he beat the disease because he loved his family and still "wanted to be here for them."
Happy Dad's Day Leonard, I love you and am very, very thankful that you are still here for us!
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