from henry...

Dad,

Out of the many admirable traits that you possess, the one that sticks out the most is the trust & honesty you and I have built up over the years.  You taught me that “all a man has is his Word.” I’ve tried to live my life around that statement, because you have always kept your word with me.

I often think of the time you went out of town on business for a few days and I decided to throw a party, even though you specifically told me to never do this when you’re not there.  Nothing happened at the party, and everyohne went home safely & peacefully.  The next day, when I picked you up from the airport, those words kept

from chad...

     Hi Dad, Happy Father’s Day. I just want to say thanks for everything you have done for me through all 13 years of my life, and I really want to thank you for forgiving me when I was mean or rude to you. Thank you for helping me through my hard times of my adoptive mom abandoning me, and just being there when I 

from trey...

Dear Dad, Happy father's day!

     I love spending time with you when I see you! I always have such a good time hanging out together. I miss not doing that everyday. You're the greatest & bestest Daddy in the whole world! I love you very much!

Trey

needed to talk.  But I’m thankful of all the things you’ve done for me or given me.

Love Your Son,
Chad M.

Funny Memory:

When we go golfing, & he's teeing off, & he misses the shot, he says, "Oh c'mon John!" Another time is when he is putting, & he misses the put & he'll say, "John, can't you just putt straight?" And the last one is when he is putting & he misses a shot, he'll start swinging the putter like a pendulum. Ha Ha!

from amanda...

Dear Dad,

Thank you for all the support you've given to us kids. Love you bunches!

Thanks for being a caring father & making us laugh. Yeah, good times! Thanks for giving me advice about stuff. Thanks for all the fun & good memories & all that stuff we've made. You're a cool person & I love you so much!

Funny Memory:

It was at the Cooper House and Henry & Dad were wrestling and then all of a sudden Henry just picked up Dad & he totally freaked out!!

That was so funny! Yeah, good times!

from abigail...

Dear Dad,

     Thank you for being so great! Thank you for all that you've done for me. I hope we will grow closer together & have a closer relationship.

I know I can always count on you for anything! You're the best!

I am truly blessed to have such a great & loving father like you! Thanks for all that you've done for me. You're the greatest!!

I love the times that we spend together, b/c I know how precious they are to you since we are away, I am sorry

Funny Memory:

When Henry & I gave a makeover to Chad while he was sleeping late one night.

We both started bursting out laughing, & then Dad came out of his room, really upset b/c it was so late & the HE saw Chad & started laughing, Yeah good times!

from melissa...

8 colleges between only 3 kids (so far) = Millions of $$$$

7 private school educations =
Millions of $$$$

Dear Daddy,

When Tiffani and I studied abroad with YWAM we were taught the Father Heart of God. We learned nothing new. Because we were raised by a man who flawlessly personified the father heart of God in all that he did.

Having one excellent parent is better than having two adequate ones.

And we have been blessed with a father who excells all expectations. To know your father will unconditionally love you and always say how proud he is even when you feel you have been a disapoibntment is the most amazing blessing. 

Daddy, I can't really give proper written justice to a man who deserves so much more than one or two paragraphs...I really wish i could do a better job
to show how much gratitude I have bursting from my heart.

i have more pride in you than you can know...thank you for everything.

I love you so much! Happy Father’s Day... Melissa

from tiffani...

Dear Daddy,

Here I am, having bugged everyone to get their letters in and I am the last to write mine.  But what do I say...I have put everyone’s words on this screen and teared up at the heartfelt sincerity and laughed at the memories each of them brought up...and then scrolled back

As a little girl, I used to sit up at your office and pretend I was doing something important at the secretary’s desk. I used to LOVE Saturdays because you would let me go to work with you in the morning, and I would bring files home and instead of playing outside or dolls, I would make Melissa be my secretary and “we” would play office.  And here I am sitting at a desk with a door adjoined to yours.  Sometimes I feel like that little girl again.

Thank you for being so transparent with us...teaching us honesty and relationship.  I have watched you hurt when each of us hurt and laugh when each of us laugh...I have seen you struggle with things and always do the right thing. I have seen an example of faith and sacrifice, of love and devotion. And I am taught new lessons watching you daily. Thank you for being a safe harbor we can always come and talk to when we want to hang out or if we feel like we have messed up so bad it is the end of our world. You always seem to bring things into perspective...and you

Funny Memory:

One would be the time you shaved your beard and you thought you had better let the smaller kids watch you shave it so it wouldn’t be so traumatic.  Then you all hopped in the car to come show me at work and I let out a blood curling scream at my own trauma, in the middle of that store...and we realized I had never seen you without a beard!!

Another would be the time at the Ballpark that Matt and I jumped out and scared you and you went through like fifty emotions at once...I have never seen you that scared!