For my Papa

When I think of my grandpa, many things come to mind. I have actually made a list !

You have always been there for us. Never has a big moment come that you have not been part of.

Never has a knee surgery kept you from doing cartwheels with me on the front lawn or at Temple Square.

Never has a BYU/Ute game been played where we have not received a call from you asking if we saw "that last play".

I also think I could have had the down payment on my home if I had just saved all the money you paid me for pulling off your boots. Let's face it, when you curled your toes it really was hard!

I am so glad we have home movies of the plays you would help us grandkids put on every holiday. With those memories and having a character in the meadow named after us, we have the best imaginations...started by you. You never cease to make us laugh and have a good time. I still don't know the real words to all the songs you've taught us. And your dancing--no one compares!

Decorating for holidays was always a special time, especially if we got to put the angel on top of the tree with your help! And you never even got mad when we would ruin the tree box by sliding down the stairs at Canyon.

Going to the garden, any gardens of yours, has always been a treat and you are treating my children the same way, with love and taking time to show them how important they are by that. I always felt important to you. You would take the time to help build my bedroom (even if you did leave me holding the sheet rock over my head when you went to get something to eat)!

Growing up and having you around has been such a privilege to me. I always had a great dancing partner, story teller, and friend around. I was lucky! Who else would let you climb on their house to pick cherries at Cherry Hill?

Thanks for raising my dad to be the dad he is!

You are the greatest with the best smile and laugh around. I am grateful you have taught me so many things that I can teach to my own children. It's been the best 25 years I've had that I could have ever asked for, with you. You mean the world to us! Even though we don't live as close, we are still thinking of you, praying for you, and wishing we were there.

We love you and wish you a very happy birthday!