Saturday mornings were my favorite. 9:00 A.M dad would come wake me up and we would get into the car and head to Chick-Fil-A. Hash browns, a Dr. Pepper, and a coffee for him. Then we would go to Home Depot where they would have a Father/Child workshop where we would get to build something and get our very own Home Depot aprons. Then we would walk around the store and enjoy our Saturday mornings together.

Then Aaron got bigger and had to come with us.

I was 5 when my dad took me out on our first "date." I wore a red velvet top dress with white tool bottom. The inside of the dress had little red flower peddles in it. We went to go see Esther (the Veggie Tales movie) and then to The Magic Time Machine. A restaurant where all the knights, princesses and many more come to life to be your waiters. He parked his truck out front and rang the doorbell to pick me up properly. I think there were even flowers involved.

Thus started a lifetime of Daddy-daughter dates. Dinners at On the Boarder, Lots of Chick-Fil-A dates, and sometimes if things worked out, I got to go with him on business trips and we would spend an extra day looking around the city of wherever we were at and shop. Of course, a girls dream.

My dad always stressed to me that daddy-daughter dates are the most important. He took time out of his day to teach me how to be treated. He showed me by making time for me that I was the most important thing and that I should be the most important (besides my mom.) Which is SO huge in a little girl’s life. Not only do dad's need to spend time with their daughters anyways, they also demonstrate a standard in which girls should live by. If a boy wasn't treating me the way I knew my dad would treat me, then it was time for him to go. My dad set the bar high, he made me feel like the most important girl in the world. Still to this day we spend time together, whether its just lunch, or us trying to plan all my classes for the next semester. He makes sure to take time out of his day to allow me to receive the attention I need from him.

Dads: you are the most precious thing in a little girl’s life. Its your job to teach them how to date and be dated. You're the ones that teach them about boys and how they "work." The relationship you have with your little girl is SO important. The way you treat them is what they will search for later in life. Remember that.

Daughters: allow your dad to treat you. It's not uncool to be seen in public with your dad. He cares about you. And he is the most important man in your life. Always. He picks you up every time you fall down, and he makes sure that no one will ever hurt you. Time with your dad is precious. Don't let it go. Even in the craziness of college, I have still tried to find time to spend with my dad. They may be shorter times, but I always want to spend time with him.

As a tribute to my dad, I want to thank you for all the times you spent taking me to eat hash browns, pouring into my life and telling me that I really am a princess. The times you would take me with you when you'd run errands, or let me come talk to you when you're in the shop working. The conversations we've had about school, and the time you've put into making sure that I am the best that you, mom and God created me to be. I love you dad.

Go with your dad. Go to Fuzzy's, go to Chick-Fil-A or even Burger King. Spend time allowing him to teach you what its like to be pursued. What its like to be on a proper date. My dad is the most genuine, protective, encouraging and amazing father a girl could ask for. The standard that he set is the standard I reach for. He taught me the value of money but also the value of time. He showed me how to be respectful, how to pick my battles and how to be someone that people respected. He showed me what its like to feel appreciated. And that you should be treated with the utmost respect. My favorite times are the times we spend together just the two of us. The times we splurge and go get chicken minis while talking about politics, or school, it still makes for a time that I cant ever get enough of. A daddy-daughter relationship is so important. It's the one that sets you up for life.