ABOVE and BEYOND

Between the last week of May and the middle of June, we celebrate some pretty important days.  Both my Dad (aka Papa) and Senior's Dad (aka Grandpa or Pops as Giada has been calling him lately) celebrate their birthday days and then we wrap up the festivities with both of them as well as Senior with Father's Day!  So this time of year gives me a lot of time to ponder on how blessed I am to have such great men in my life and the lives of my family.  Since the parties begin with Papa and his birthday, I thought I'd write a post in his honor...thus the title ABOVE and BEYOND is in honor of Papa!  

Very, very late Christmas Day 2008

This picture says it all:  Not to many men post 50 would be willing to hop in the hot tub, late at night, in the freezing cold, to hang out with their grandkids and kids.  I mean really who does that?  Notice that my kiddos own mom and dad aren't there...but this Papa is.  In fact, it was probably his idea!  This Papa is not only fun and exciting to hang out with but goes ABOVE and BEYOND in just about everything he does.  From generously helping others (family and those who aren't family) to his various business ventures and career, from talking to his children about their stresses and successes to serving the Lord and others in all sorts of capacities, from playing hard (yep, even still playing hard...let the church basketball thing go a few years back but still likes to mix it up with sons and grandkids...did two marathons not so long ago one of them being the famous Boston) and cheering with enthusiasm (all sorts of sports...grandkids to professionals, dance recitals, good movies (westerns are his favorite) even American Idol rumor has it), from reading the best books (how many guys can you find who have read Victor Hugo's Les Miserables cover to cover?) to finding the best pieces of property, from dispensing wisdom gained over the years to reminiscing about crazy times past THIS GUY ALWAYS GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND.  Really, he doesn't do things half way. He inspires us.  All the time.  Dad and Papa, we love you!  If we could only bottle your enthusiasm and willingness to share we would be millionaires!  But since we can't bottle it, we will just continue to revel in it and enjoy being part of your life and you part of ours!  Happy Birthday!  XXOO 

P.S. Dad, now I am crying just thinking of you as I finish up this post and the next thing on my list today is cleaning the toilets...Warning to everyone but my Dad...the rest of this sentence is an inside joke so don't even try to understand or interpret it because it isn't what you think... so I guess I will continue to cry as I clean the toilets 'cause you know even the toilets will remind me of you and how you always go ABOVE and BEYOND.