Growing up in rural Illinois, summer time meant many things…walking beans, bailing hay, church camp, little league baseball, basketball at the park, drive-in movies, VBS, building forts and treehouses in the timber behind our house (yes, even when I was in high school)…all kinds of things.  But my favorite part was probably when my dad would take my brother and I fishing.  No matter how long or hot the day was, there was always time to go fishing in the evening.

Where we lived, I don’t remember folks worrying about a license or anything…you just grabbed your rod and reel and headed for your favorite farm pond.  Crystal makes fun of me, but I actually love the smell of Illinois (not Decatur) in the evenings with all the corn fields and you can just smell when there is a pond with fish in it around somewhere.  It brings back good childhood memories…much like glass bottle pop, therefore making it the only pop worth drinking and me a pop snob (potential tangent).

When we were little,  Dad always took us where fish were.  I’ve forgotten the times when we came home empty handed…we always seemed to catch fish.  Many evenings dad never even cast a line…but spent every moment fixing ours (mostly Jonathan’s).  As I’m learning with Ezra, that press and release thing requires timing…and timing is everything.  Its amazing how quickly you can cast your line behind you or wind up with a ball of fishing line…all because you don’t release the button at the right time.

I remember the sense of happiness that came along with going fishing with my dad.  I have so many vivid memories from those evenings…and I hope that I can give Ezra those same stories.  Stories that mean more than catching fish.  Stories that speak deeply into his heart that his daddy loves him.  And I would do anything just to have the privilege of making memories with him and untangling his fishing line.

Before Ezra was born my dad told me, “Son, you are finally going to understand just how much I love you.”  And he was right…only now do I understand how fortunate I am to have the dad I have.  He is the best man I know.

I’ve never questioned whether my dad loves me…I’ve never had to.  The man has always worked hard and given his family his best.  I’ve always known that my dad would do anything for me.  He has always found a way to make ends meet.  Always dropped what he is doing to help.  Always been there.

He has taught me how to be a good dad…and you can’t learn that in a book.