It Takes A Real Man To Be A Daddy

Brent's first harvest - 1988

 
The Dads in my life likely won't sit in their recliners on Father's Day unless there's a surprise rain storm. Their favorite way to spend their special day is in a Kansas wheat field, cutting a crop that's taken 9 months to grow.

In a way, it's like raising kids, I suppose.

Good, honest, hardheaded character is a function of the home. If the proper seed is sown there and properly nourished for a few years, it will not be easy for that plant to be uprooted.

~George A. Dorsey

Jill & Randy, Harvest 1987

Just as in farming, there are plenty of variables in parenting. Fortunately, the weather isn't one of them (unless you're the Father of the Bride worried about the weather ruining your princess' big day).

Gina Dreher Photography, Wichita, KS, 2009

It's Dad's special weekend. But, I'm thankful every day for the "Daddys" in my life.
Happy Father's Day to my Daddy.

We are thankful for our son-in-law, Eric, who is a great Daddy to his two girls.

And on this Father's Day weekend, we also celebrate the memory of my father-in-law. I owe a debt of gratitude to Melvin and Marie for raising the fine man I married. He couldn't have been a better Daddy to our kids.

Any fool can be a father,

but it takes a real man to be a Daddy.

Philip Whitmore, Sr.

Happy Daddy's Day!

Daddys make pretty great Grandpas, too!

 

This is a shorter version of a blog post from 2010. To read the whole thing, click HERE.

(Coco)Nuts About Dads

Professional family photo by Stan Reimer, Pratt, KS

I have the packages neatly wrapped in Kansas sunflower paper. The cards are signed and attached with an inch or two of tape.

But the best gift of the weekend won't be found by tearing off the Kansas sunflower paper. (Yes, I obviously need to replenish my "manly" wrapping paper selection.)

The best gift came complete with a fantastic light show. It wasn't in a box but in a slender cylinder-  a rain gauge. Around here, we got varying amounts from 1 to 1.5 inches. For my folks, it was more in the 0.80" to 0.90" range.

No question: It was the best gift a couple of farming dads could order for their Father's Day weekend.

Professional family photo at the top taken by Stan Reimer: Since it was taken in December 2011, my Dad has one new grandson-in-law and two more great-grandchildren, with another on the way.

Today, I'm thankful for the Daddys in my life - my own Dad and my late father-in-law Melvin who with Marie raised the best Daddy for my kids that I could have prayed for.

I also made a new sweet treat to go along with my gifts for my guys. These Caramel Coconut Bars are a tasty treat for Dads who like coconut. If yours doesn't, then you'll need to go with Plan B.

Since both Randy and my Dad choose to celebrate their birthdays with coconut-based cakes, this treat is made to order.

They are not as good as rain. But they are still good. Happy Father's Day to all the Dads and to the families blessed enough to have them!

Caramel Coconut Bars

Adapted from Cookies and Cups Blog

6 tbsp. butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups shredded, sweetened coconut
1 1/4 cups caramel bits (or chopped caramel pieces)
1 tbsp. milk
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes for garnish (opt.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9- by 13-inch pan with cooking spray.

In mixer, beat butter and sugar together until well creamed. Add egg and vanilla and mix on medium speed until smooth and well blended. Turn mixer to low and add in flour, salt, baking powder and coconut, mixing until combined.

Spread evenly into prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.

When the cookie base is baking, melt the caramel and milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute at a time on 50 percent power, stirring after each minute, to prevent burning. Repeat until the caramel bits are melted and spreadable.

Spread caramel evenly over baked cookie base and return to oven, baking 10-12 more minutes. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the caramel. Put back in the oven for 1 minute. Remove from oven and use an off-set spatula to spread the chocolate evenly over the caramel layer. Sprinkle with toasted coconut, if desired (The original recipe said 1/4 cup. I didn't think that was enough, but use your own judgment.)

Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Makes 30 bars.

Happy Father's Day!

Some dads will get fishing poles. Others would prefer golf equipment. Still others may get the stereotypical necktie.

For a couple of dads I know, the best gift for their special day is the chance to get some more wheat harvested. So Happy Father's Day to my Dad and my hubby who should get their wish today.

On this Father's Day, I am truly blessed. I don't say "I'm lucky" because I truly feel blessed by God to have such great Dads in my life.

First of all, there's my Dad, who obviously helped cultivate a love of reading that is still alive and well today.

He taught me how to shoot a basketball. Even though the early indoctrination seems to have not paid off with playing time (since I was a champion bench sitter), I did learn to appreciate the game (especially when it involves Thunderbirds, Trojans and Wildcats!)


He taught me to work hard and to never settle for mediocrity. He taught me to think for myself.

He paid for years of piano and voice lessons, but when the time came, he advised me to try journalism instead of becoming a music teacher. With my temperament, it was some of the best advice I ever got.

He taught me about the importance of family. I will never forget him telling me, my sisters and my brother that we needed to protect one another. Sure, we were going to bicker, but if some outsider was threatening one of our siblings, we were supposed to rally to their defense.

Thanks, Dad, for all the things you have done and continue to do for me and my family. Happy Father's Day!

***

I made one of the best decisions of my life 29 years ago when I married my husband. He turned out to be the best father for my children that I could ever have hoped and prayed for.

Randy has been a great Daddy at all the stages of our kids' lives.

From little ...



To a little bigger ...

To almost grown ...


To entering a new stage of life as a father of adults. It's a journey I've been privileged to be on with him.

Photo by Gina Dreher, Gingerroot Studios, Wichita

He's been a great partner at every stage. Happy Father's Day, Randy!

***

And on this Father's Day, I also celebrate the memory of my father-in-law. He would have been right there with them on the notion that a perfect Father's Day would be spent in the driver's seat of a combine.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Melvin and Marie for raising the fine man I married.

So, while we celebrate a couple of great Dads around here today, we'll also be missing another one.



Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Hope your day is spent doing the things you love.