Fathers in My Life - Part 2

The first time I saw my father-in-law, I had pulled up to the house in Farmington when he was talking to the neighbor across the street, he smiled. I recognized him from pictures, and was embarrassed that I was so early.

Looking back almost four years I have been amazed at the neat relationship I have been able to develop with him. And, while many sons- and daughters-in-laws have horror stories about their in-laws, I can honestly say that I have the greatest in-laws ever.

Brad has been such an example to me. Besides being a hard-working and talented accountant, he is dedicated to his family, to his faith, and to his overall beliefs. He is extremely thoughtful and unabashedly generous. I have learned to be a better person, to stretch the boundaries of my comfort zone, and to appreciate nature in ways I would never have been able to do without his love and support.

One of my favorite memories with Brad was at our wedding luncheon. When he stood up to toast, he told the story of my first experience at the cabin--it was January, prime snowmobiling time. He asked if I'd ever ridden one, and I answered no... but I've been on a jet ski and a four-wheeler. So, off we went. When I failed to communicate was the fact that while I had ridden those machines, I had never driven those machines. I was scared. to. death. But, I prayed and offered a prayer something along the lines of "I will follow all instructions given me and do my best to prepare, but if I die, I know that it is thy will." After we got back from the ride, I conveyed these thoughts to Brad and he was horrified that I had been so scared and felt bad that he hadn't given me more than a 10-second intro to riding a snowmobile.

When he told this story at the luncheon he said that he had been impressed with the amount of faith I had shown, more like fear and resignation, but it's all semantics, right?

I have come to love Brad like my own dad, I feel so lucky. I mean who else can ask their father-in-law to add huge complex numbers in their head and get an immediate response? And who else can say that they've bonded with their father-in-law over Judge Judy?

 I can. I have.

Here's to Brad, the best father-in-law a girl could ask for.