Butterflies & Daughters

Today is Fathers Day. This means it is only fitting to brag on my STUD of a father. Not only is he still pole vaulting at least 10ft at the age of 50+ but my dad is really smart... I say this because he spent over 30 years of his life in school. :) 13 years of K-12, 4 years Undergrad, 8 years Doctorate of Nutrition, 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency which is like Med school applied in the real world. I admire his determination and perseverance to keep going even when things didn't go his way in his schooling. He worked hard to provide for his family. He did all of this with young children at home. But when he came home from school, work and church obligations he still found time to play doll house, give me baths and act like I was the queen of the kingdom, tell me bedtime stories, have family home evening, read and explain the teachings in the Book of Mormon, teach me how to throw a baseball, build a tire swing in the backyard, go to our little league games, go to the pool, take us for ice cream at UDF, teach me how to ride a two wheeler and so, so much more. He always did the best HE could and I have many tender, loving memories of my childhood because of him (and of course my mother too, but that goes with out saying.)

My dad LOVES music. This is one of the things we both really love and connect with. He can listen to a song he knows and tell you where he was, what he was wearing and what was going on in his life when he first heard that song. I am similar as many songs take me back to the place where I first heard them. I remember the first time I heard the song "Butterfly Kisses" on the radio It was the summer and I was 10 years old. I was in the car with my mom driving into downtown Columbus. We were going to meet my Dad at the hospital where he was working then we were all going to go to some festival in downtown. I heard the song an as I listened to the lyrics (as I always do) tears streamed down my face as I thought of my dad. I thought of all the games we played when we were little, I thought about what it would be like when I turned 16 and how I was sure I would look just like my mom as the song suggested. Then I thought about my wedding would be someday and how special that day would be. In the temple ceremony a father doesn't walk his daughter down an aisle I always imagines the daddy/daughter dance and how special that moment would be for us. With tears still rolling down my checks as the song ended I decided that would be the song my Dad and I danced to at my wedding. I told my dad about that song and it instantly became "our song."( In fact I get defensive if my sister mentioned dancing with my dad to it at her wedding.)

The day I left for college I was a mess. I cried the whole plane ride to utah and I cried myself to sleep that night. I couldn't even talk to my family that night because I would just cry and no words would come out I was so homesick. I remember my dad telling me it was ok because the morning I left he was driving to work and our song Butterfly Kisses came on the radio. He said he had to pull over to the side of the road he was crying so hard. He couldn't believe how fast I had grown up and all he could think about were those memories we made together when I was a little girl. He told me he loved me and he was proud of me. It made me miss him even more. 

That year when I came home for christmas he gave each of us kids a special gift. He wrote us all a poem an framed it for us. Mine was called "Butterflies and Daughters" Luckily grandma was there to get a picture of him reading it to me for the first time... as you can see I was crying... that is a theme with me. 

Butterflies and Daughters

Two of the finest creations found on earth are

Butterflies and Daughters, both have great worth.

One quietly matures in nature's safe care,

The other in a home with family all there.

Butterflies grow quietly, encases for none to see

But watch closely, daughters grow just as quickly.

Like the flight of the butterfly, my daughter has left

The warmth and the safety of her own family nest.

How beautifully she sails through sunlit skies,

Now and then landing softly, right before our eyes.

My daughter began much like the butterfly,

But now fleets and flickers in the clear blue sky.

Stronger and matured she can't be forced back,

Fond memories of home and love she'll not lack.

As the years start to race and I think of the past

I remember my butterfly daughter at last.

What happiness and pride now swells in my chest

When my butterfly daughter returns to the nest.

Love and Butterfly Kisses,

Dad

I have kept that poem in a special place ever since I got it. It is such a treasure. When my dad and I sign a card to each other we always sign it love and BK (butterfly kisses) I love that we have "our own little thing." Almost four years ago I had that special moment with my dad on the dance floor. All eyes were on us and we didn't want to cry, but knew if we listened to the words we would both be a mess in front of everyone. So we laughed and made jokes through the first two verses but the third verse, the one that talks about the little girls wedding we listened to. I think we both fought of the tears as long as we could but it was such a special moment that I will remember forever. Another memory of a song engrained into my mind forever.

Happy Fathers Day Daddy!!! Thanks for a childhood full of love, laughter, happy memories, "hugs in the morning and butterfly kisses at night." You are a Stud! I love you!

Love and BK,

Your butterfly daughter!