fathers day tribute

jared
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when porter was only a couple days old, we sat in our hospital room holding our brand new baby and watched the evening news on the television that hung from the corner of our room. the news reported the abduction of an infant that was caught on a store camera. as a mother was grocery shopping, she turned away from the cart to grab an item and someone snatched the car seat from her shopping cart and calmly walked away. jared turned to me and said "we have to be so careful!" such news had never pierced us so deeply as it did that day, holding our brand new baby boy. then jared says with intense seriousness- "i know everyone thinks their kid is the cutest, but ours really is, and people are going to want him when they see him." it made me laugh, but right then i knew porter had a special daddy.

now nineteen months later, as our little boy wanders the house yelling "daddy, where ARE you?" i know that there love for one another is mutual. he knows his daddy will wrestle with him, play ball with him, sneak him treats when mommy isn't looking, share his every meal with him, and love him in every way he is capable of. as i spent the past 5 days in california away from jared, i realized how much he truly helps shoulder the responsibilities of parenthood. we are a team in every possible way, and i am grateful that not only do i have him as my partner for eternity but that my children have him as their loving daddy. thank you for ALL you do, we love you.




















dad
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when i was in preschool (3 or 4 years old) my dad told me he was going to the store and asked if i would like to come along. i declined. until i overheard him asking my mom if she needed anything from the mall. my little headed popped up, "you're going to the MALL? i want to go!" for weeks i had been wanting a jean jacket, and as we walked through a department store my dad pulled a jean jacket off the racks and asked if i wanted it. "dadddd....," i said dramatically, "it's not stone washed!" a week or so later my dad came home with a stone washed jean jacket.

as i have grown, i have witnessed my dad travel across the entire state during the christmas season to insure that his kiddies have the PERFECT chrimstas morning. i later learned that on christmas eve he would climb onto the roof and pound his feet on the roof while ringing a bell in his hand, so we could hear that santa and his reindeer had landed on our roof top. i don't know that any one ever heard it, but i thought that was awesome.

as i got even older, my dad never complained as he came to pick me up from a friend's house, or a church dance, or a school football game late at night. in fact, i always knew that no matter where i was or how far away i was, if something happened and kids weren't making good choices, i could call and he would come. my friend's noticed too. it was not uncommon that the guys would call my dad when they got stuck 4-wheeling, or if someone got a flat tire and didn't know how to change it. i don't know where their dad's were, but they knew my dad would be there- and he was.

thank you for always being there for me dad. i know you would move the moon for me, and all i have to do is ask. i love you.




















steve (jared's dad)
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steve is in many ways, like jared. he is so easy to please, and almost always happy. give him- some castleberrys beef stew, some pbjs, chocolate ice cream, and an fsu game and he is in heaven. and i don't know if anything makes him more proud than... his grandkids. he is constantly bragging about them, and truly believes that each grandchild is far ahead of other kids their age in one area or another. he is known to sneak the babies their 1st taste of chocolate ice cream, and chuckles over their mothers shocked faces when they discover chocolate on those chubby little cheeks.

what i am most impressed with is steve's willingness to help others. he will drop anything to help his kids in time of need. he has come to our aid countless times. and lastly, his positve attitude has continued to be an example to me. i have rarely heard him speak unkindly of others. happy fathers day everyone.