A Letter From My Dad

I love this picture
of my Dad because
he is so happy.  He
loved playing with my
kids when they
were little!

As I read this letter that my Dad sent me, I was wishing that I had memorized it, and kept it in the forefront of my mind, especially as an older teenager.  I love my Dad.  He gives great hugs, and always wants to do what is right.  I always knew he loved me, but somewhere along the way, I decided I wasn't quite living up to the person he wanted me to be and he was disappointed.  He he told me all of the good things in words long ago in this letter, and I don't really think he ever stopped thinking of me in this way.  I wonder how many other times he told me, and I did not pay close enough attention!  I always have wanted to make my Dad proud, and am glad to know that he is proud of me.

Here is the letter.

"Dear Sherie

I want to write to you and tell you I love you and miss you along with telling you thanks for just being you.  You are a true delight to have as a daughter.  I appreciate all your cheerfulness, your helpfulness and your willingness.

You are a great help in helping and caring for the younger children.  You so faithfully get out of bed and set a good example for all of us.

I'm proud to see you as president of the Beehive class [The young women's class in our church for ages 12 and 13].  I know you'll do a good job with the help of the Lord you'll be able to do all the things you want to do for the girls.

I hear you are a super salesman.  Keep up the good work. [I don't really know what this was about even though he mentions it later in the letter.  I have a pretty sure knowledge that I am not a super sales person!]

It's getting close to your birthday.  Do you think you can stand to be a year older?  I'm hoping that I can work it out to come home that week but I won't know till probably next week - sometime.

I hope you can read this.  I'm laying down.  The light isn't very bright and I can't write very good at best.

In the ward here [church congregation] they allow 12 year olds to go to ward dances that they have periodically.  Do you think you'd like to go to the dances?  J. seems to like it.  They can't go to stake dances though until they're 14 years old [stakes are made up of a few congregations].  They have stake dances every 2 weeks.

Have you sold anyone on the Diet Kit? Mother says you were playing the tape to a big audience? [Again, I remember nothing about this.  What kind of diet kit would a 12 year old be selling?]

I don't know if I told you thanks for the nice letter you wrote.  I really appreciated it.  I get so lonely for all of you even though one would wonder how anyone could be lonely in a circus, but their way of living and all the noise is hard for me to take let alone just being so far from all of you.  I love you so much.

I thought I would be through with the guns I'm working on tomorrow but they found 50 more so it will keep me busy the rest of this week.  Next week I'll be Sanding and painting wood gun stocks (handles).[I don't remember Dad working on guns except in Missouri.  Maybe he was already there?  I really don't know]

Well I'd better close and see if I can get a note written to Brian and Jenny tonight also it's getting late.  I only got 4 1/2 hours of sleep last night and I need to get more than that tonight.

Remember I love you.

Love, Dad"