Dad,
As I have gotten older, I have been able to see all the fantastic things you do for our family. You have taught me so many life lessons from a young age that have followed me throughout my entire life. Many can see the resemblance between mom and me, but I know a lot of my personality and who I am is because of you.
You taught me to be a hard worker but also just as important to be a hard relaxer. Seeing you work tirelessly on our family farm, trying to make everyone happy, and balancing about ten other things all at once is a lot to do for one person. Living as a real-life example of getting your hands dirty and working hard, because without hard work there is nothing. On the flipside though, you show me the importance of stopping to smell the roses or to enjoy good food and to take a nap afterward. Having a balance between working hard and also relaxing is something to keep yourself sane in this crazy world.
You have taught me that if you want to better yourself and make a difference around you, you have to work hard, understand that mistakes will probably happen, and most importantly not to give up when things get tough.
Growing up on a farm, I have had experiences that not many people my age got to have. During the summer months, I didn't always get to sleep in as late as I would like because I was needed to clean out grain bins. Sometimes you weren't able to attend my summer league softball games because of work that was required to be done. I know that there is no way that I would ever have a wedding during spring or fall because those are high-stress seasons for farmers. Being able to see plants grow from a colorful seed put in the soil to become corn plants significantly taller than me taught me from a young age the beauty of nature. The experience of living on a family farm that has been in our name for over 100 years is something I am proud to be a part of.
Being a farmer's daughter taught me to appreciate growth, family, and the constant change that is needed in life.
Trace Adkins sang it best, that the moments spent with father and daughter are extraordinary and that they aren't always what they appear. The smallest of moments in life may be some of the most important later on. One the most important life lessons I have learned from you is to appreciate the little moments we all have because they can add up to significant moments. Whether it was when I was little and us eating frozen corn right out of the freezer, watching a Fast and Furious movie marathon, or letting me help move equipment on the farm, these memories aren't just little things in my life.
Life is just too short not to appreciate the people around you, and I am so thankful you have been a significant person in mine.
Dad, someday's it may seem like you are carrying the world on your shoulders. With the mixture of the farm, family, and just life in general, your shoulders may feel a little heavy, but you are not alone. Being a part of a family means you have people all around you to support you and help make the significant issues in life seem less intimidating.
You may not know the impact you have made on our family, but you hold such a substantial role in the family, our dad. You have raised three passionate and stubborn kids who are chasing their goals in life, and I am so proud to call you my dad.
