Happy Fathers' Day

It's been a few weeks. School got out and my summer became crazy - probably not unlike yours. If you liked the Sunday Stories - please go to the blogspot: https://MillsFamilyBook.blogspot.com. You'll find several new stories that I received about the men in our lives that have passed on. You'll also find the complete story that I am including an excerpt from in this email. 

 

And now - the question: Do you want a book? It looks like if we do digital it would be about $5. Soft Cover, again depending on the numbers $25-$35 each and hard cover about $10 more than soft cover. Please complete this form to let me know what you are interested in and then I will have a better idea of the actual cost. 

 

 Fathers’ Day 2019 

 

By Valerie Aileen Mills Hunt 

 The day before Fathers’ Day, 2019, I was asked to speak in Sunday School on how my dad was like the Savior. Please don’t judge me too harshly, but let’s just say the list didn’t come readily. It is easy for me to list my mom’s Christ-like qualities. Her living through the death of her first husband, and three of her daughters for different reasons and keeping her sanity made her a saint in my eyes. But to come up with a list for my dad took some effort and deep reflection. 

 

I remembered a fair share of Sundays spent at the race track and my dad teaching me how to place bets on horses. Now this is a skill that can come in handy I suppose, but Christ-like attribute? I remembered asking him what he was drinking when I was not very old and him offering me a drink. Turned out it was whiskey and water. Maybe that’s why I never was that tempted to drink, so yes, a good lesson learned, but I was still searching… And the jokes that my dad told got lots of laughs over the years and had me scrambling to cover my kids' ears. It was a far stretch to liken that to the Savior. 

 

The more I thought, though, the easier it became. I could see how the relationship my dad had with each of his siblings was one of service, love and sacrifice.I remembered being 3 years old and having Elizabeth and Uncle Glen living with us for a bit and then moving across the street to an apartment where they stayed (according to Uncle Glen in a recent interview) for 6-8 months. I remember boarding a few of Uncle Glen’s horses while they gestated, gave birth and then the cute baby horses that quickly grew. I remember many visits to Lehi to visit with Aunt Kathy and the cousins when they were home. I remember playing card games at Uncle Mavin’s and Aunt Loa’s, and spending time with cousins. Rides on the back of Brentsy’s motorcycles holding on for dear life, but also feeling the thrill of it and gratitude that this teenager would take the time. There were Thanksgivings early on where we rotated houses, trips to Kingston where we joined in Independence Day festivities, and joined in family prayer. We looked forward to General Conference weekends where we were excited to have the cousins come stay while they attended, and visits to Huntington to help on Grandma and Grandpa’s farm or visit with more cousins. And of course, the family reunions in the mountains and the homestead. We had joy in family and made time to be with each other. I don’t remember my parents spending a lot of time with friends, but family was always a priority. 

Another Christ-like quality was that my dad taught me right from wrong. I remember sitting on his lap when I was little and he would read a Bible Storybook to me. He taught me the alphabet forwards and backwards – a skill I have to this day! I’ll admit the forwards alphabet may not wow anyone, but how many of us have it down backwards? Whether he went to church or not, he always welcomed our home teachers in to share a message with us. I knew he was proud of me when I chose the right and did my best. 

 

My dad was willing to sacrifice for others. My dad always looked up to his brother, Len and made attending my cousins’ missionary farewells, Scout Courts of Honor, weddings, and any other family events a priority. My dad was content to work as a laborer his whole working life. He hated driving in snow and worried to the point of making himself sick, but that didn’t keep him from going to work. He sacrificed for our family doing something he did not enjoy in order to make sure we had our needs met. I remember when Roger and Monique’s house burned down and my dad said he’d match what we would donate to help them. Trent made a bit more than my dad, so we knew he was taking a big risk offering to match us. I had a few times when I struggled as a single parent. My dad was willing to let me use his savings as collateral to cover me while I finished my last two semesters of my graduate degree. I knew he would sacrifice to help his family. 

 

My dad is trustworthy. I recently asked my dad what made him decide to go back to church, receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and receive his temple ordinances. There were several reasons and steps that got him there, but the one that touched me the most, was my oldest son, Steven, had asked him to go to the temple when he was old enough and my dad kept his promise. I am sure that my dad has more Christ-like qualities than these, but the ones that stand out to me are brotherly kindness, charity, love, trustworthiness, and sacrifice. I was able to share my thoughts with my dad on that Fathers’ Day in 2019, and it seems fitting to also share my thoughts here as well. 

 

Happy Fathers' Day Ya'all! Valerie