HAPPY FATHER'S DAY CHUCK!

This is my Superman!  Doesn't he look the part?

I have been so blessed to share my life with him, not just because of the amazingly patient husband he has been with me, but also because of the wonderful partner he has been in raising our 3 (plus 30) children.  From day one he has been a fully involved, hands on type of dad.  Whether it was changing diapers, giving piggy back rides, or bath time, he was in the midst of the activity.  His favorite part of the day was bedtime for the kiddos, when he could climb into bed with them and read them bedtime stories.  He loved to entertain the kids when they were little by making up songs about each child, or silly stories to tell ( a man sat at a round table with 4 corners, eating vinegar with a fork....).  Although when the kids were very little he was often gone during the week, the weekends were set aside to spend time with them.  There were always family walks around the neighborhood, bike rides, roller blade hockey in the driveway, ATV trips, and yearly vacations to build family memories. 

The most important thing he did as a father was to honor his priesthood by being a spiritual leader in our home.  He made sure that we had daily family prayer, scripture reading and weekly Family Home Evening.  He did father Interviews with each child every fast Sunday to see how they were progressing spiritually, academically, socially, and helped them set goals.  He often had to bribe them with candy to get them to willingly attend those interviews, but they were an integral part of the kids growing up process.  He was always available and worthy to give blessings for healing when the kids were sick, and blessings of encouragement in times of stress or before school started each year.  He set a wonderful example to our children of what a priesthood holder should be by faithfully fulfilling every calling he ever had, and being a faithful home teacher. 

He has taught the virtue of service to his children. He frequently organized service activities for neighbors or ward members and involved the children. He exemplified service in other ways, by fully supporting me through the years when one after another, I was Relief Society President, Primary President and Young Women's President and I was gone many evenings as a result of those callings.  He was always there to watch the kids, help with homework and get them into bed in my absence without complaint.

 Chuck has also been an amazing example to his children of compassion and generosity as he has opened his home to the 30+ children and young adult foster children we have had live with us over the last 29 years. Some of those children stayed for a weekend and some have stayed for years.  He has opened his heart to them and considered each his own child.  All this without financial reimbursement of any kind.

His truly amazing fathering skills are all self taught. He had no role model in the home to emulate.  His own abusive father left when he was 5 years old. He was determined to give his children a better foundation for life than he had. I know that he has been successful, because I happen to know the children he has raised and they are all adults that any parent would be truly proud of.

I repeat- he is my Superman!