Happy Birthday Dad!  I didn’t post the last two days because we have been very busy with family over the Labor Day weekend.  Yesterday, September 1, was a very special day – my dad turned 80!  The only present he wanted was for all of his children and grandchildren to be at Lakeside with him – so we were.  My brother and sister-in-law with their four kids, my sister and brother-in-law with their two boys, and Tom and me with our son and daughter-in-law.  Oh, and two dogs (the cats were left at home).  We all made it, at least for the birthday dinner and cake.  We played games, had a “sword fight,” ate, walked to the dock, and had ice cream.  We showered our love and attention on the birthday “boy.”

I have a great dad.  He is supportive, loving, patient and smart.  He was the only physician in the small town where I grew up.  Everyone in town knows him and they all call him “Doc” or Dr. Clymer.  He’s had some challenges in recent years, with a bunch of surgeries.  Most recently he had knee replacement surgery, but he is doing well and was back playing tennis this summer.  He likes to learn new things and enjoys his iPad and is getting good at using his iPhone (see previous post).   But even more than all this, he is a man after God’s own heart.  He has loved Jesus from the time he was a child and has always tried to serve him and be faithful in all things.  Dad has been a wonderful example to me, to my brother and sister, and to his grandchildren, as we all try to follow in His footsteps.

So here’s to you Dad!  Thank you for all you mean to all of us.  Happy 80th birthday and may we treasure every day we get to share together as a family.