"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

From the earliest memory I have, you were "coaching" me and teaching me to: fish and bait my own hook, ride a bike, be nice to Emily, eat my veggies, move my feet on the tennis court, do my homework, not to be so sassy, to love the Lord, shoot a basketball, to work hard for what I wanted, and how to swim.

You get one day a year dedicated to the fact that you have the greatest kids in the world. But who am I kidding. Every day I recognize that this life would be twice as boring and no where near as easy if you weren't my dad.

You let me do your hair and give you massages. You played barbies with me and took me to my first dance.

I wouldn't change having you as my dad for the world, but your title is way more than just my father.

When I think of you, I also think of all the fatherless students that you have taught and coached and stepped in in whatever role they needed.

You have given countless students rides home because they're parents couldn't or didn't. You have been a counselor to those who were dealing with some really heavy stuff. You have paid for meals when kids didn't have money. You have invited countless students and athletes into our home when they needed comfort or a place to stay. You have given tough advice and been real with those who never had anyone speak truth into them.

You have been way more than just an athletic coach to so many. You are truly a life coach. You accept people for who they are, and then find a way to help them be better. You are constructive and harsh when you need to be, but can turn around and just as easily offer advice or a laugh. You help people see their potential and give them a kick in the butt when they aren't living up to it.

You remind me daily what it looks like to see past the mess in people and just love them. You remind me how fortunate I am to have not only a dad, but a selfless man who would do anything for anyone.

I am so thankful for how you spread yourself in the hearts of so many, but I am even more thankful that Jesus saw fit for you to be my dad.

Thanks for teaching me basic survival skills. For being the first to take me camping, to help me catch a fish, for all the playgrounds you built and put together for us, for showing me what a biblical man looks like, and for being my dad.

Thanks for providing for my needs and for sharing my taste in Disney movies. Thanks for making me laugh and giving me a reality check when I need one. Thanks for being my secret keeper and someone I can chat with for hours.

You have coached me well, and now I'm old and living out my adult life, and some day I will be married and my husband will be doing these same things with our kids. But for now, I hope that when you look at my life, you recognize all the skills you instilled in me and that I am living a life that makes you proud.

You're a great coach and an even better dad.

- your little buddy.