DAD: A daughter's first love.

With Father's day approaching, it's a great time to reflect and appreciate a man whose done so much for his family. There are no words to describe how much I love him, how much I care or even the gratitude I have for my Dad. No card with money or anything materialistic would do him justice.

I like to describe my Dad as an old school, traditional, conservative Catholic. My father does not have an education, and has worked as a ranch hand since he was a child. At an early age, he instilled in me the importance of hard work, respect, to be an individual with great character. He may not have taught me how to read or count, but he taught me values that will last me a lifetime. That's knowledge you can't gain from a textbook. My Dad is far from perfect. He has his faults like anyone else. We don't agree on many worldly issues, and we have even got into arguments, but we agree to disagree. I guess you can call that respect.

My father and I have a unique relationship. We are very close, and I guess you can say that we are kind of like best friends. We can drink a cold beverage together, have intellectual conversations, and of course he tells his stories of from his childhood. Those are the kind of talks that I love, and make the best memories.

On holidays like today, I wonder if God will ever bless me with children. I wonder if He will bless me with a husband. If that one day comes, my only hope is that he be as noble, loyal, loving, respectful, caring, and nurturing like my father.

When I think about my childhood, I think about the timid, little girl growing up in a home dominated by boys. But her main hero is her Father...that's a girls first love. Yes, like any other girl, I am a Daddy's girl. Did I usually get what I want? Yes, still do actually. Even at 24, I still get spoiled. What can I say? My Daddy loves his baby girl.