Our fathers are the first men we’re introduced to. From the time we’re little to the years we transform into an adult, we look to them for advice and support. Our dads are the go-to person when it comes to a lot of curves life throws at us. For me personally, my dad was the first person I called when I needed financial advice, when I received good news at work, and when I needed tips from my best repairman.

Father’s Day is so special because it’s a day devoted to all the supermen in our lives. While it doesn’t compare to the other 364 days they put us first, it allows us to show our dads our appreciation for everything they do, day in and day out.

I will always remember the last Father’s Day I got to celebrate with my dad. An avid listener and fan of James Taylor, we decided to put ourselves in his shoes…James Taylor that is. With the goal of making him laugh, my sisters and I picked a few of my dad’s favorite albums and remade them featuring ourselves. He opened the pictures one by one and the reaction on his face was priceless (scroll down to see the finished product – Jenna and Brighan, please forgive me). We stuck with the music theme for his real gift, mimicking hotel-room artwork we saw in Nashville the previous year. My dad opened a framed photo of the guitar he played at their wedding, and his smile said it all. We hung it up in the living room that day, and whenever I look at it I can picture that smile.

Having to sit out on the celebration of Father’s Day makes me wish I would have cherished it more when I could have. We often overlook the amount of time and energy our dads put into their relationship with us. Whether it’s driving 4 hours roundtrip to work so that we don’t have to relocate, or hiding money in the car for gas, we fail to thank them for the big and little things they do for us.

While our dads are recognized every year on the third Sunday of June, they deserve to be celebrated every day – for their love, for their guidance, and for their ability to lead us in the right direction when we need a little bit of help.

I want this article to act as a small reminder to appreciate your dad while you still can. Call him to say hello, keep him in the loop of your life’s happenings…and always, always give him an extra hug. Don’t overlook the little things he does for you, and remember to say thank you.

And if you want a little laugh...