Redheaded Jill

I was thinking today about some of the super fun things that I got to do as a kid/young adult.

Being in a family of nine meant that there wasn’t always time for 1 on 1 attention with your parents. I don’t feel like I was neglected, but there were definitely some days when I felt annoyed by having to share the attention.

Regardless of our vast numbers, I got to do some pretty awesome things with my dad.

One thing my dad and I bonded over was politics. We both like history and until very recently I was super into politics.

When I was in junior high (I think) my dad took me on an airplane for the first time. We flew to Arkansas and attended a lecture given by a judge at his college campus. (My parents met at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.)

I used to want to be an attorney and I would tell my dad, “Someday I’ll be a judge on the Supreme Court!” I think it’s super special that my dad encouraged my interests that much. I don’t remember the judges name or most of what she talked about, but I’ll always remember that trip.

When I was in 9th or 10th grade we flew to California. My dad took me and my brother Isaac and we went to Semi Valley California and visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Unfortunately, this was before I had a phone and my camera battery died so I only have a couple pictures. I also remember being SUPER unpleasant and cranky on this trip. Like… the kind of cranky that embarrasses me to think about over 10 years later…

BUT… it was awesome. I had never been to California (and don’t feel any need to return). We visited the library, I held hands with the Reagan statue out front. (I wish I could have used that for my senior pictures honestly…) I also saw the ocean for the first time! We drove to the beach and touched the water. It was cold. We drove in LA which is a terrifying experience. Like… maybe even worse than New York driving. And, greatest of all, we went to Grauman’s Chinese Theater and STOOD in the footprints of John Wayne and Dean Martin. And found Dean Martin’s star on the Hollywood walk of fame. Now that I think about it… I would maybe return to California someday just to do these things again. With a camera… Maybe…

When I was in 10th grade (I think) my dad let me skip school for the day with my older brother and maybe Isaac too… and we went to a big… lecture? There was an event where several keynote speakers attended. It was for business owners. I remember one of the speakers was Zig Ziglar(?) and probably 4-5 other people. But… the REAL attraction was Jerry Lewis. I got to see Jerry Lewis speak. I got to be in the same building as him, breathing the same air… I love Jerry Lewis SO MUCH. It was amazing. He was hilarious. He played clips of his reunion with Dean Martin… I was starstruck.

I am so blessed to have a dad who takes an interests in his kids interests and encourages them. I know that each of my siblings has similar stories. He recently went to Alaska with my brother Levi. He helped my older brother with his house build. He’s helped my brother Isaac with business training through a job coach. My sisters were allowed to have horses growing up. For Sydney’s birthday last week he took her to the sale barn to buy a couple new calves. He builds me chicken coops and chops firewood for my wood stove. He takes Tate to the movies, even when they’re not anything he’d want to see. He went to so many of my nephew’s flag football games and t-ball games this last summer/fall. And growing up he always attended our sporting events, even though none of us are very talented athletes.

Everyday I’m thankful that my dad is my dad.