The Dad's in My Life...

I never knew my Grandpa George...he died right after I was born. I wish I had...I have heard many stories about him. He was always portrayed as a mean old cuss. He was actually a little bit of a scary figure in my life because I knew he used to take my dad and his brothers out to the barn when they'd been up to mischief and in their words, "take a 2X4 to our rear ends". But I'll bet he would have been a softy with his little granddaughters.

My Grandpa Durham wasn't really a part of my life. He and my Granny Opal divorced before I was born. He didn't come around much...I think I only remember being with him one time. I was pretty bitter about it and told him so in a letter when I graduated from high school. But after my dad died, my mom went to his house and brought him back into our lives. I saw him a few times after that before he died a couple of years ago. We had some good times together...although there never really was a connection. My mom, sister and I went to see him as he lay on his death bed. He was not responding to any of us and we had pretty much resigned ourselves to just being there...when he opened his eyes and looked directly at me and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry." I burst into tears and felt his love for me. I'm so thankful for that experience.

As I mentioned above, my Granny Opal divorced my grandpa before I was born. She married another guy in between that I didn't know. But after that marriage failed, she met my Pa Jerry. Pa Jerry has been there my whole life. He really adored me when I was little. You can tell by looking at the photos. And of course, I remember. He's the reason I wanted to be a truck driver when I grew up! On one of our moves out to Utah from Tennessee, he drove the U-Haul and I was the passenger. He brought along his CB radio and gave me a "handle". I was "Blondie" and he was "Guitar Picker". Granny Opal's handle was "Little Pixie". So, he would talk to all the truckers about what was going on out there on the highway. And when we stopped at truck stops, I got to see the big rigs and the cool little apartments they had in their trucks. I had a blast on that trip...all the pop and treats I could eat. Pa Jerry has been a wonderful grandfather to me. He was a witness at my wedding in the temple, standing in for my own father. I couldn't have picked a better man for my Granny to spend her life with.

My dad. I cried a bit today...it is always bittersweet to think of him. I love him dearly, although he wasn't a perfect father...but who is? Although I have forgiven him of his mistakes, they sometimes creep up in my thoughts and make me cry. But really, his life was one of service and of love. My memories are full of times when he was helping others. He loved to share the gospel...with everyone! I remember a time when he brought a hitchhiker home. Mom was not happy and I can understand why! He gave him a good meal and a bed for the night and then drove him back to the interstate the next morning. That was after he gave him a Book of Mormon. He may have even had him come to church with us before going back to the interstate...I'm a little fuzzy on the details! Dad was always so proud of us kids and our accomplishments. He was always right there with his camera...much to our dismay sometimes! Dad was a dreamer and I have inherited this quality. Dad was always hard at work on a project...either on our house or a church event or something personal. Anything he touched was going to be done right and he expected that out of the people around him. I love him and I miss him. I wish he could see his grandchildren. When I am at one of their events, I often think of him and how he would have absolutely LOVED to be there too. I hope that Heavely Father lets him look down on us every once in a while. Somehow, I believe He does...

Don Jordan...my step-dad. It's weird for me to write that! I don't really think of him like that...maybe it hasn't been long enough but I do think of him as one of the most caring and wonderful men I know! He has a reputation around these parts for being a hard worker and someone that would do anything for anyone. His thoughtfulness always makes me smile. Our kids love him and always want to be around him. He is a great Grandpa! And what's better yet, he is the best thing that has ever happened to my mom since my dad died! She waited a long time for him and I'm sure she would agree that it was worth the wait! I can hardly express the peace that I feel when I think of her with him. I know that she is happy and loved. What more could I ask for?

Jim Weston...my father-in-law. It was so easy to call him Dad right from the beginning. He brought me right into the Weston family with his southern accent and charm. Oh how wonderful he can make me feel when he starts bragging about my cooking or whatever it is he is talking about! I was the first daughter-in-law but it wasn't hard on me. Dad gives the best hugs...nice and tight. He is always there for us when we go to him for advice. But won't give it unsolicited. He is a man who isn't afraid to show his emotions. He loves his family fiercly. He raised the best man I know...and I will be eternally grateful to him for that.

Rance...my husband and the father of our five beautiful children...is the love of my life. I thought I knew what love was before I met him but I didn't. And I'm still learning what love is every day with him! What a blessing it is to be in a marriage that continues to deepen and expand as the days go by. I met him while he was serving his mission to Tennessee. He had been on his mission for about a year when he came to our ward in Clarksville. He knew my brother LaMonte from a "Mini-Mission" that LaMonte had served earlier that year down in Knoxville. I remember LaMonte coming home from that experience and saying that I would really like Elder Weston because we had the same taste in music...and so Elder Weston came to Clarksville. LaMonte was right...I did really like Elder Weston! He was one of the cutest guys I had ever seen! But as our family went through the trajedy of losing my father and my youngest brother, LaMar, in a housefire, I learned of an even better trait of Elder Weston's than his looks. I learned that he loves people and shows that love by his actions. He loved our family through that time...he and his companion would come to the dark, "old lady" smelling rental that we had to move to after the fire and pick my brothers up for P-day activities or tracting. They helped out at the big yard sale that our church held for us...mostly as comic relief by trying on crazy outfits and modeling for us and just being there for all of us. Rance hasn't changed over the years...let me take that back. He has changed...for the better if it is even possible!! He used to drive me crazy by asking what he could do to change for the better and I would always draw a blank! But he is always truly trying to improve himself. He shows all of us just how much he loves us by his actions every day. I think Scott's Father's Day card to Rance says it best:

Dad,

Happy Father's Day! You are such an awesome dad. I couldn't ask for a better one. You are a great example to me. I never see you being rude or mean to anyone (besides the Blockbuster dude!) and if you are, you always say sorry. I want to be just like you when I am older. You are a perfect example to me on how to be a great father. You are active in the church, you read your scriptures every day, you work hard at your job to provide for us and most importantly, you love your family and show it all the time. Thank you for being such a great father to me.

Love,

Scott