Anyone can be a father, it takes an amazing man to be a [Dad].

Each month I'll dedicate a blog to a certain person who is important to my life. This month that person is my dad.

My Dad hasn't always had it easy. He is an individual who has had to overcome many things, face many trials during his lifetime, and someone who didn't ever get the chance to have a Dad like I do. I don't know how he turned out the way he did, but I like to guess. My Dad has the best heart of anyone I know. A heart that has gone to unmeasurable lengths for the people it loves. Despite all the bad, my Dad has always had this heart and it really is a shame -a great travesty- that a few individuals did not get to share it because of their own ignorance.

My Dad is a self made man, he didn't get a lot of help along the way, hasn't had many favors, and has had to surpass unimaginable odds. The sacrifices this man has made for me will be something that I will work the rest of my life in trying to repay (although, I don't think I ever could).

I am an odd duck, a very complex person, and very few people understand me. My Dad understands exactly who I am because I have a lot him in me. While some people my age talk about how they don't want to turn into their parents, I'm proud to say he is everything I want to be. When I notice things in myself that remind me of my Dad, I smile and feel happy because I know it makes me a beautiful individual by default.

He is my very best friend and I don't think I'll ever have another friend like him. When he passes on to the next life I will lose several priceless things, things that cannot be replaced, and will have a hole in my heart that will never be filled again. He is a constant source for support and guidance, he gives it to me straight (even though I don't want to hear it sometimes), and I value his opinion more than my own. He is horrible in times of emotional crisis (usually makes a joke that isn't funny and makes us cry more or is indifferent and says something totally insensitive) but I don't think that he means to, I just think that he doesn't know how to. I'm going to give the guy a break, if this is his one downfall then those are the times I go to my Mom!

My Dad is the only boy in my life who has never let me down and he never will. The love he has for his children is unwavering. He has always been a positive role model and shown my sister and I everything we deserve and everything a good husband and father is. Everyone always tells me I have such high expectations and it's because of my father.

My family and I went to a wedding one time, I was about ten. My mother and sister were off gallivanting (as usual) so it was just me and my Dad at the table. The father daughter dance had just started and as I sat there, even at the age of ten, and watched this girl dance with her Dad knowing she had to leave him and that he was giving her away, broke my heart. I started crying despite my best efforts and my Dad looked over at me and said, "Well Kate, what's the matter?" And I just replied, "I don't want to leave you Dad." This will be a moment I carry with me for the rest of my life. My Dad once told me that no one would ever be good enough for my sister and I. On the day he has to walk me down the isle, I hope before those doors open, that I can look at him and say, "On this day, you are giving me away to a beautiful man. I know he's not you, and I know that no one will ever love me as much as you do, but I want you to know that he is everything I deserve."

Swim Meets, Volleyball games, basketball games, guitar recitals, band recitals, plays, music programs and art shows-Dad has seen it all. He has always supported my sister and I in everything we do even if he knows we are making a mistake. I think this will be the hardest thing I will ever have to do as a parent. We only want what's best for our children and even though we know better, they do not. Sadly, despite our words of wisdom they are going to have to make their own mistakes. He was always there for us when we got hurt because of those mistakes. He never said, "I told you so." Rather, taught us a valuable life lesson and helped us to move on.
He is the best Dad to my sister and I. And if your children are your legacy, then he has left behind a beautiful one. He has raised two amazing daughters and will continue to do so until he goes on to the next life [and I will cherish every moment of it]. There will never be a day when I won't want to talk with him or be a time when I wonder "I want to know what Dad thinks about this."

If you know my father, you can all attest to the man he is. His character and work ethic speak volumes about him. And if you don't know him, you should take the time to get to because you are missing out on a wonderful person. I don't know anyone like him nor do I think I ever will. He has touched and blessed so many lives, including mine, and for that I will forever be thankful. I'll leave you all with a list of everything I love about my Dad.

Things You Gotta Love About Mark

-He can fix ANYTHING..I mean ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING. And if he doesn't know how, he figures it out. I have never met a man so handy in my life!

-He always has really good stories to tell

-He always tells you the same stories or jokes about ten times but you just sit and listen and act like you don't know what's going to happen or the punch line because you just like sitting and listening to him:)

-HE IS SO FUNNY

-There are times when he isn't that funny but just thinks he is

-He is really weird and usually says some really weird things

-He does voices of people a lot (You should hear his Barney Fife=CLASSIC)

-We play 'name that year' on old black and white movies on TCM (FYI I am up in the count)

-We sing together in the car (last time I was home it was the Beach Boys)

-We always have such good talks in the garage. I don't know why but it's a magical place

-He used to take me to work when I was little and let me stand in the freezer at the store and push the button to crush boxes

-He used to do this thing with my sister and I where he would super man us (aka throw) us into bed at night while Lisa stood in the room and would be like MARK THEY'RE GOING TO HIT THE WALL hahaha

-He jingled bells outside Me and Tessy's room on Christmas Eve when we were little and I thought Santa was outside

-He built me a fence so that I could keep my Dog

-He still is scooping dog crap HAHAHAHA

-He makes me laugh

-I love walking into him and mom's room at night and seeing him laying in bed with his spectacles reading his Kindle:)

And most importantly

-He loves me more than I could ever ask for

I love my Dad to the moon and back and I hope he's never questioned that. He is the best man I know, the person I want to grow up to be, and the best father and husband anyone could ever have. Thank you for everything you've done for me Dad. I love you so much and cherish all of the memories and moments I get to spend with you.

-Kate