My Dad's 60th Surprise Party

Last Friday, my mom surprised my dad with a surprise party for his 60th birthday. The biggest surprise was that it's not for another month!

My part in the whole thing was very small. I made the invitation and I got to receive the RSVP's. I wish I had saved my answering machine messages. Person after person called to say they were so excited about coming. They went on and on about how much they loved and respected my dad. Those that couldn't make it expressed sincere regrets and told me they really wanted to be a part of this event.

Over one hundred and fifty people came to celebrate the life of a man I am so proud to call my dad. They all know him in one way or another, but I know the whole man. I have put off writing this blog because I really wanted to take the time to do it right. I wanted to be able to express in just the right words how much he means to me.

Even after a week, I still can't do it.

Words are not enough to say all that I feel for him. Growing up, he was the best dad I could ever ask for. He was so patient and wise. He was a rock. Sometimes, I think kids are in for a shock when they first see their parents as adults and peers. Not me. He is the same consistent, wise, caring, and generous man I grew up with. The benefit to seeing him now as an adult is that I get to hear the stories that just went on behind the scenes when I was a kid. Rather than having my bubble burst in finding out he's human like the rest of us, I still feel the awe and respect I did as a kid.

I think the highest compliment I could pay him would be to say that he did exactly what God put him on this earth to do - he modeled God to me, so that I could better understand who He is. Now, when I struggle in learning to trust God in whatever situation I find myself, I can picture Him just like my dad. I KNOW I can trust my dad in any circumstance and I believe God has given me the gift of my father so that I can see how God feels about me.

Thanks dad. Thanks for being such an amazing father. I love you.

I still don't feel this post adequately expresses how I feel, but like my old man used to say, "Good enough for who it's for."

Fine print: Photos by Paul Wang a friend and mentor of my dad's. Thank goodness he was there with his ten pound camera. We were trying to find out how to get my dad to take the pictures, but somehow we couldn't work out the "pictures of him surprising himself" part. Thanks Paul.