Dad

My Dad.  Is wonderful.  He really is.  He is my hero!  He has been through so much and stayed so happy through it all.  Yes, there are down days, but there is so much good that comes around, and so much happiness in my home because of my dad.  We don't always understand each other.  We don't always share each other's views. And sometimes we really get on each other's nerves. But, still, he's my hero! I remember him tipping me upside down, holding me and letting me "walk on the ceiling." When we'd play hide and seek he'd always have the best hiding places and put me on the top shelf in a closet, on the fridge, behind a curtain or some place totally ingenious.  He taught me how to ride a bike with just 2 wheels.  He helped me understand the violin, even though he doesn't play it.  He taught me how to play songs on the piano, put silly lyrics to tunes, and be a dictionary addict.  He was there when I got my Learners Permit-in fact, he's the one who started teaching me how to drive.  He's given me ideas for how to better my drawings and paintings, even though he thinks he can't draw, and even though I don't always think it will work.  But so much of the time, he's right.  My dad knows that God and Family are the 2 most important things in life and he does his best to uphold and protect them, and he does all he can to be able to spend the most quality time with us as much as possible.  He's made foods (that I LOVE) from his mission.  And talking about his mission, many times he thinks he's failed because only one person joined the church.  But, that makes me love him even more because I know he was faithful and did his very best and focused on "the one."  Who knows how many more lives he has touched for good?  My dad hasn't always been very "successful" in his "jobs" and many people think he's a failure as a man, husband, father and provider because of it. Many times he's been persecuted because he's followed the rules and done his best to do the very best he can. Many would say he should just go with the flow.  But my dad.  My dad.  My dad is brave.  My dad is obedient. My dad is kind.  My dad lives with INTEGRITY.  Yes, we have our problems.  My dad isn't "perfect." I'm not "perfect."  No one in this world is "perfect." But, my dad does his very best.  Elder Ballard has said "You cannot fail when you do your best on the Lord's errand."  I think this is a very true statement and my dad is living proof. To the world he may be a failure.  To the world he cpould be a weirdo. The world may never love my dad.  I may get frustrated with him, but deep inside, I LOVE MY DAD!  He's been there for so much of my life, not just for the big things, but for the little things, too.  He's my hero.  He's my dad. And I think, he's the best dad in the world.  He's the best dad I could ask for.

I LOVE YOU AND CARE ABOUT YOU SO MUCH, DAD! THANKS FOR BEING THE PERSON YOU ARE!

Love Your Daughter,
Deepnita

Amazing Ancestors

Today I am at a Family History Center (AKA "Paradise!") and having a pretty good time. I am having a rough time finding out some info on a few people, but I am finding some. Family History is amazing.  I LOVE IT! I work on it A TON. I love getting to know my ancestors and find out all about the things they loved to do and what struggles or amazing moments they had.  We have so much in common!  For instance, one of my great grandfathers loved to read, design, build, whistle and draw and it wasn't until recently that I found all that out.  I have grown up just knowing that he was more or less a "war hero" but I have never known him personally at all.  One day I was able to speak with some family members who knew him, look at lots of old records and trinkets of his, and I actually began feeling like he was in the room.  He became a part of me (or visa versa) in a way that I have never really known before.  He became a person, with feelings, passions, a family, faith, fear, a smile: my grandpa, not just a name!

I am so grateful for family and for ancestors and all that I can learn from them, and for their protection of me. I really think that my ancestors are my guardian angels and I even think they help influence what I love to do. I mean, I love to draw! I love to whistle! I love to read! My grandpa could have been great friends if we had lived at the same time, but I also believe that now we are definitely friends in spirit. I can hardly wait to be able to meet him (and so many others) one day in a great big family reunion in Heaven! Wouldn't that just be amazing?!

Daunting Dentists and Grateful Greetings

Hi!

Today I went to the dentist. (dun, dun, dun) This is one place I usually DISLIKE going. Very much.  I won't go into everything, just that the thing I usually dislike the most is the metal toothpick (oh, the chills!). I hate the scraping on my teeth.  It's like listening to nails on a chalkboard, to me.  Anyway, we get to the dentist and I see a lady sitting there on the couch and I get this little feeling like I should maybe try sitting next to her.
But, of course my mind started saying, "But she's got earphones in.  I don't really know how to start a conversation with her.  She'll think I'm totally weird. It could go all wrong because of this and that." So I sat down somewhere else.  I was thinking out some more excuses when her daughter came out and they left.  I had missed an opportunity!  It's so hard to act on impressions.  Usually things work out fine in what would seem like a very awkward situation, but fear keeps me back.  I'm so silly sometimes!

I was the second one in my family to go back.  Instead of acting all timid and frightened today, though, I decided to be friendly.  I tried to talk cheerfully and comply willingly.  And I tried to keep my mouth open extra long instead of having to swallow every five seconds.  I noticed that the lady's scrub shirt was pretty cute and worked up the courage to tell her so. "Oh, thanks!" She responded.  She was super gentle on my teeth today (Hallelujah!) and even though I didn't tell her that, I did at least mention it to my mom.  There was another assistant that came in a little later. I noticed that she had hurt her wrist.  I asked her about it and were able to talk a bit.

Talking about talking, yesterday I was at the temple.  I had brought some family names to do work for and had to wait a little longer than and few people.  There was a lady who had brought in a 3 names to do and we ended up sitting next to each other.  Before I even could think of something to say she said hello and began talking about my name and how she loved it. We were courteous to each other ("You can go first") and smiled at each other whenever we passed each other.  The last time I saw her (before she left) we felt like friends.  I love it when within such a short amount of time I can make friends with someone! I am so glad that she was outgoing enough to say hello to me.  She really made my day!  Thank you, sister!