Showing posts with label jerry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jerry. Show all posts

Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Dad Squad

Not to be outdone, the yearbook for the men in the Lewis family has come out just in time for Father's Day! Let's see who made the grades!


IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME DAD
No one wanted a baby as much as this dad, so the fact that he had to wait 20 years couldn't have been more agonizing. But that baby finally came, and it's safe to say he was worth waiting for! Andrew's proving to be the dad we all knew he would be; patient, innovative, and fun, making baby RFL a lucky baby indeed. As Melissa T. says, "I think a kid would give up anything to have Andrew as a father and get to sleep in a drawer!"


MOST FUN DAD
Brianne's husband Joe wins this title hands down. When the kids want to play for hours on end, Joe is always up for the challenge. His endless energy and enthusiasm makes him a shoe-in for this category. His son Landon will never be bored, and Landon's friends will always want to come over to his house. In my house, whenever the boys are trying a new trick that requires physical aptitude, you'll very often hear the phrase "I bet Joe could teach us!"


BEST LONG DISTANCE DAD
There are some things Dads never want to be, and I'd bet the number one thing is "not there". But Ed had to take on that challenge and in true Ed style he has made the best of it. He proves that the shortest distance between two points is a father's determination, and while he can't be there physically, he's learned to accept that the next best thing is better than nothing.


GEEKIEST DAD
This Dad of the unsalted peanut is no doubt gearing up to deck the nursery halls with homemade webcams made from old television sets hooked to peanut butter jars and light bulbs. Posters of Bill Gates with Sharpie moustaches and devil horns will line the baby clothes drawers. Little Unsalted Peanut will be spitting on my iPhone "accidentally" while Jeff rewards baby with treats behind my back. Lucky for him I love geeks!


MOST COMPLEX DAD
It's not a given that all dads will be easy to read. Sometimes we have to look deeper into a dad to see the truths that lie beneath. My brother Eric has more layers than a Napoleon, so you've got to work a little harder to get to the layer you want. But it's there. It just might take few pints of a stout ale to reach it. And let's be real, any dad can hug you, but there aren't many dads out there who can rewire your house, build you a computer, babysit all 14 of your children at once, analyze your personality, clean your grout, fly you to your destination, starch your shirts, and teach you Bible lessons all in one day. Way better.


MOST SUPPORTIVE DAD
While Bonnie certainly could have done a bang-up job on her own, she found a gem in Jamie. He stepped into the role of father like he'd been doing it his whole life, and filled a void in the lives of Bonnie's kids. A few special men out there have the ability to love children regardless of who their biological father is, and Jamie is certainly one of those.


JOB WELL DONE DAD
Eric Mosley couldn't be the father he is without my father in law Jerry having done something right. He's another one of those special men who can love a child completely, regardless of biology. Eric grew up knowing he was adopted, but never feeling like anything but Jerry Mosley's real son. Because that's what he was. Big Father's Day thanks go out to this dad.


MOST SATISFYING DAD
If you've got needs, Michael T.'s here to get them taken care of. Whether his kids need time, attention, discipline, instruction, distraction, motivation, encouragement, Michael is on the job. When a deficiency is identified, you can bet the farm it's going to be addressed posthaste.


MOST SEXY DEMONSTRATIVE DAD
I always knew Eric was going to be the best kind of father. Demonstrative to the extreme, supportive to the extreme, attentive to the extreme. And I was right. I've never wished he was any other kind of father than what he is, and I'm so glad for my children that they will grow up with a dad like him.


BEST DAD FOR ME DAD
Maybe some dads are more this or more that, but for my money I couldn't have gotten one more perfect for me. Not many dads in this world would have "gotten" me, but mine not only got me but thought highly of me as well. We've been part of our own Mutual Respect Society from day 1, and the value that he has brought to my life is immeasurable.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Things We Don't Like




Zachary made this sculpture on the deck at the cabin in North Carolina. He said it was a hotel, with a ghost in it (the piece of kindling that's in his hand). After he finished building it, he walked over to Pop (Jerry, Eric's dad) and asked, "Do you like it, Pop?" Jerry said, "Of course! What's not to like?"

Apparently Zach thought Jerry's question was literal, because he responded with, "Well, not having good manners....or shooting your best friend, like my best friend Luke!"

So there you have it. Things you shouldn't like, according to Zachary. Bad manners and disloyal murder. Works for me.

Friday, May 28, 2010

The Truth Shall Set You Free?




Eric and I are taking the kids to visit my father-in-law Jerry, or "Pop" as my kids call him, and his partner Del in a few weeks. The kids have been talking about Pop and Del a lot recently, and I heard this conversation between Zach and Ava in the car yesterday. Zach was in the mood to make phone calls, and was talking to Ava about who he should call.

Zach: Ava, I think I will call Del and tell him that he's bald.



Ava: Zach, I think that if you say that, it would not be very nice, and it will make Del feel sad.



Zach: But Ava, he really is, so it's just true. And I think he will just laugh and think that it's funny.



Poor Del. Mind you, he's not bald. He has a very distinguished looking closely shaved haircut. But to a 4 year old...

I will have to remind Del that it could be worse, Zach could be calling him to remind him of his impending death, as he does my mother. In the words of Zach, "but it's just true!".