HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAGA!

Yes - Happy Birthday to my sweet father! The man who for all my life has worked hard and loved his family hard. I have so many favorite memories of my childhood with him, but one that is standing out at the forefront of my mind today is how he used to hug me in the mornings before he left for work. I'd come downstairs for breakfast just before he left for work early in the morning. And he'd hug me, and I'd stay cuddled in his arms for as long as I needed to be hugged. Some mornings I only needed a short one, some mornings I needed a long one. And no matter what, he didn't move until I was "through" getting hugged. I know now how difficult that probably was some mornings. I'm sure there were times that he could barely stand still because of all the things waiting for him at the office that day. But I never knew it. He was there with me 100%. And he still is today - although now it's *my* babies who get most of the hugs. :-) You are the greatest Dad I could have had!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!