Dear Dad,

I'm not sure ho you do it-but you ALWAYS seem to see every possible item on the road/side of the road.  Big or small, in the road or tucked in bushes, valuable or not valuable :) you see it!  I know you have found many treasures this way.  It is not unusual to back up for miles to retrieve your special find.  I'm going to start paying better attention!

Love you lots!

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

I hope you like the letters.  I have loved writing them.  The more I write, the more things I think about and add to my long list of things I want to write to you.  I have so many things I want to say to you.  Endless good memories to share with you.  I have spent many nights crying and laughing while writing these...but most of all I just feel extremely blessed. 

Blessed to have had you as Dad. 

Blessed to have someone love me so much. 

Blessed to have been given such a beautiful life. 

And so, for this note, I just want you to know, how grateful I am for you.

I love you forever.

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

Growing up I remember watching these five shows with you--

1) Lawrence Welk (I dug it! :) )
2) Candid Camera (My favorite.  I can remember you sitting in your chair, red faced and laughing)
3) Andy Griffin Show (Black and white...not so great!)
4) The news (Absolute torture for a kid.  Ha!)
5) Jeopardy (also torture)

Now, I like to watch candid camera on youtube, Jeopardy on TV, and the news.  I'd watch Lawrence Welk too, if I could find it.  The only one I'm not interested in now is the Andy Griffin SHow...that one is yours Dad. :)

I love You!
April

Dear Dad,

I think you were as excited as us kids on Christmas mornings.  I remember sometimes you coming in and waking US up! :)

I don't know if this was Mom's idea or yours, but I remember getting a letter from Santa with the edges all burned/browned from Santa coming down the chimney.  Did you know that the letters Santa leaves for my children have the same burned edges?  CHristmas with you was always fun and happy. 

I love you always.

Love,

April

Dear Dad,
As I held Baby Ben today with my heart full of love for him, I couldn't help but think about how quickly time flies.  I am sure that if we could ask Grandma Newman, she would say that it was just yesterday that she was holding you as a newborn.

This earthly life is far too short-no matter how many days any of us are given.  I realize now, that I will always feel like my children grew up too fast and that I didn't have enough time with the people I love. 

Wishing for time to slow down...

I love you,

April

Dear Dad,

Why are you every grandchild's favorite?  I know!

*Because you play. 
You get on the floor and growl or chase, you hide and jump out.  All the Grand's love this.

*You say yes.
Yes to riding four wheelers, yes to bringing home "treasures" from the junk pile.

*You always have mountain Dew available! :)

*Because you are happy and people want to be around you.

*Because your the first to wave, smile, pick up etc when you see the grand kids.

*Because you are always there.
There to help, to support, to watch.  You are there.

*Because you are generous.
If Carson asked for a dollar you would give him twenty.

.........................So many more..........................

I love you Dad.

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

There is one thing I hated growing up--getting a cold! :)

Colds meant being slathered in vicks vapor rub (I hate that stuff even now!) with a hot towel safety pinned around my neck, and drinking crème de mint (which I thought was really medicine back then!) Now I know better!  Ha!

I love you (despite the cold torture! :) )

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

I recently overheard some people talking about how their Dad always came home from work "grumpy because he was so stressed"  I (happily) couldn't relate to that at all.  My childhood (and adulthood) is full of memories of you being happy, of you smiling, joking, and laughing.  It seemed you were always in a good mood.  You are always fun to be around.  I look back on my childhood and feel so blessed that I had you and Mom as parents.  My childhood was good (great!), happy, and full of love.  Of course, my adulthood has been just as good because of the foundation you gave me and because your positive influence has continued.  Thank you for giving me a beautiful life.

I love you forever!

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

One thing that I love about you is hearing you sing.  I have great memories of riding in your truck and hearing you sing bits and pieces of "Put your shoulder to the wheel" or "How much is this doggy in the window"  I've told my primary kiddos multiple times about My Dad signing.  It makes me smile thinking about it.  I'm not the only singer in the family! 

I love you!

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

I'm not ready to live life without you in it.  I still need you.

I love you so much.  I can't believe how unfair this is.  I want so badly for this to all go away and for us to keep having lots of adventures together. 

I'm so sad for you and all of us.  I hope you aren't scared.  I hope you know how much I love you.  I hope you know how lucky I feel to have you as my Dad.  I hope you know how much your love, example, endless support, and so much more has influenced my life.  All the things that are good in me--came from you and Mom.  I can never tell you enough--or even begin to explain how much I love you.

I love you Dad.

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

My favorite outfit of yours is your blue shirt and levis and work boots.  Nothing says "My Dad" like this outfit! :) I could always find you in a crowd because I always knew what you would be wearing.  I love you and have a perfect picture of you wearing this in my mind and always will. 

Love you Dad.

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

I have missed living near you form any reasons but especially when it snows!  There was nothing better than waking up and the "Doug Newman snow removal fairy" :) had paid us a visit!  I loved it when we actually got to see you and say hi, but most of the time you served us and we never even saw you.  You have been a wonderful example of selfless service to me your entire life.  I don't know anyone who so willingly serves others as much as you.  You have shown me how much you love me by always serving me.  Thank you will never be enough.

I love you so much. 

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

I love nothing more than taking the Tremonton exit, turning at Zollinger;s corner and coming home.  There is nothing as comforting as being home.  I love beautiful Bothwell and our lovely home.  I see your touch everywhere there--in the green fields with perfect rows, in the John Deere tractor out in the field, in the playground a the church.  I see and hear from all the people all the service you have given to them and I am always proud to be your daughter.

I love coming home to "my" house, a house that you built for us.  I've always thought we had one of the nicest homes and am amazed you built it.  I have the best memories in that house-playing basketball and rollerskating in the driveway, watching TV together in the family room, and coming home to you sitting in the recliner (mostly wearing just garments! :) )

I'm so grateful that I have these places to call home.  They bring me comfort and good feelings.  Cam has said he doesn't really have a place that feels this way to him.  He knows and I know--that he is truly missing out.  I'm so blessed to have a home--that you created, served in, continue to improve, and have filled with love and beautiful memories.  I can't wait to come home again soon and see you. 

I love you Dad.

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

Thank you for tending Carson all those days.  He loved being with you on the farm.  I could have never made it through nursing school without your babysitting help!  I knew that whenever I called and asked if you could tend that you would say yes.  I am sure it wasn't always convenient but you did it anyway.  My favorite memory of you tending was when Carson used about 100 rolls of tape and taped the inside of your truck.  In true Dad style--you didn't get mad but just laughed about it.  Thank you for being such a great Dad AND Grandpa!

I love you!

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

Even though I think we all pretended to be embarrassed by you and Mom dancing, I really loved it.  I loved watching you and Mom dance.  Whether it was square dancing or dancing at the fair bandstand, it made me feel happy and safe to see my Mom and Dad dance together.  I remember anxiously watching for the square dancing float to come by during the fair parade.  We would all scream and wave at you.  It was a lot of fun.  At the fair it was fun to see you grab Mom's hand and without saying a word lead her out to the dance floor.  I loved watching you dance with Mom and always hoped that one day I would have a husband like you, that would dance with me.  I finally do and because I now know how happy this makes me--I understand a little how Mom must feel every time she danced with you.  Thank you for dancing. 

I love you forever,

Love,

April

Dear Dad,

One of millions of wonderful memories I have is breakfast every morning with you.  You would always make it a priority to be home in  the morning and have breakfast with us before school.  It was comforting to know I would always see you.  I remember one morning I wanted Wheaties and all we had was raisin bran.  I remember you carefully picking out the raisins for me.  Because of you, I have tried hard to always have breakfast with my babies.  I want them to have the same memories that I do.  You are and always have been a wonderful Dad.  A kind, happy, generous, loving Dad. 

I love you so much.

Love,
April