For Father's Day

"As a child, my father would take me for walks in the late afternoon. He would point out things along the way: a bird’s nest hidden in a tree, a bee amid the flowers that would create sweet honey. The wonders of the earth came to my attention without hurry. We’d taste a new strawberry, pick a pea pod and delight at the yummy little round ‘balls’ inside. 'Walk in my shadow. I’ll be your shade,' he might say. How good it was to be a child, exploring, learning the natural miracles of the changing seasons and mysteries of life. Sometimes, early in the morning, he would gather us all up in our PJ’s and coats to drive through white fairylands of snow. Ah, sweet memories. I see the same thing happening as the father of MY children and grandchildren takes a little hand to explore and investigate...

Again, I watch the influence of a great man casting a large, comforting shadow across the heat of the day.

I remember with glistening eyes, and treasure the lasting influence of a FATHER."  -DeAnna Packer

(from Vicky Deursch)

 

(From Anna Frost)

    

(From Brenda Haertel)

(From Brenda Haertel)

(From Suzy Wirth)

 

(From DeAnna Packer)

(Book of Mormon stories; from Lori)

(From Jacque Elkington)

"Fatherhood is to be captured in so many instances. There’s the calm moments of napping together or reading together. There’s the special moments of watching your child achieve something for the first time(or couple times). There’s the energetic moments of playing together, running together, teasing & tickling. And then there’s moments like this where the father gets to introduce his child to something new in this world and you have a sweet moment of love and learning."  -Megan Hansen

(From Megan Hansen) 

"My husband was nervous to be a father, because he didn't have the first clue with what to do with a baby. But as soon as our little guy was here, it was like he'd always been one."  -Mara Hinton

(From Mara Hinton, picture by Alycia Hinton, puzzlepiecephotography.com)

(From Jeanine Crane)

 

(From Lori)

(From Heather Bigler)

"When [my husband] moved up to Washington from Utah three weeks before my due date we were aware of the possibility that the baby might be born with us in separate states. ...A day after Paul arrived at our new house [in Washington], Rhett was born. [Paul] managed to fly with our older son back to Utah later that day and you could tell from seeing them together that it was worth the trip." -Vicky Deursch

 

(From Vicky Deursch)

Certainly, Dads are special.

And aren't they the most fun?! 

(From DeAnna Packer)

"I love this picture because it epitomizes what our daddy does for our family- brings optimism and cheerfulness to every situation." -Katie Lewis

(From Lori)

(From Jeanine Crane)

(From Anna Frost)

(From Gail Pidduck)

(From Amy Fitzgibbons.  Yes, those are twins!)

(From Jeanine Crane)

 

(From Anna Frost)

(From Heather Bigler)

And let's not forget grandpas!

"I used to see Grandpa Packer (not pictured) take a toddler quietly from a room full of people visiting. Then I'd notice in the other room a chubby hand with a cookie and a smile. Grandpa's are good people." -DeAnna W. Packer

(From Lucinda Truman)

(From DeAnna Packer)

(From Lori)

(From Gail Pidduck)

(From Gail Pidduck)

"After a LONG day and many failed nap attempts, Grandbill was the one to lull these girls to sleep. He was mostly sleeping, but I love that little wry smile my dad has on." -CJ Carter

(From Lucinda Truman)

Some dads are in our homes (and hearts!) daily. 

"I'm so glad when Daddy comes home!"

(From CJ Carter)

(From CJ Carter)

(From Jeanine Crane)

(From Lori)

(From Amy Pincock)

Other dads live in our memories.

(From Gail Pidduck)

(From Jeanine Crane)

(From DeAnna Packer)

(from Jeanine Crane)

"[My dad] was always a farmer and his harvest was always bountiful whatever he tended, a garden, a flock, or a family."  -Lucinda Truman (painting by Gail Pidduck)

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"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:11 

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Happy Father's Day!