Comments on: Do you know who should win the Kodak Father of the Year Challenge?

By: crystal

crystal — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:01:07 +0000

From an early age my dad was always a hard worker. Even on Christmas evening(80′s) if they called him in for overtime snow plowing ,he would have to leave us and make money so we could eat.
As a teenager my dad showed me about being healthy like exercising and vitamins.He worked out every weekday after work!!
Present time,my dad retired last year. He rides his Harley and although i know his Bike is his baby, i will always be his baby girl!!

By: Alyssa Liljequist

Alyssa Liljequist — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:04:06 +0000

My dad loves the Lord and lives for Him. His memorization of Scripture has inspired me to actively hide God’s Word in my heart. His passion for evangelism and fulfilling the Great Commission is one of the things I admire most about him. Because of Daddy, I share that passion; it will be with me throughout my life and I cannot thank him enough for instilling it in me!

My dad loves my mom, my brothers, and me unconditionally. He shows it in his words and actions. He does everything he can to protect us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

My dad is a wonderful steward of the resources God has given him. He has taught me the importance of not living for the pleasures of this life but of having an eternal perspective. He gives generously to missions and to the poor. His example has made a lasting impact on me.

My dad is diligent. Not only he works hard outside the home to provide for us, he also works hard at home. He does yard work and takes care of the house’s maintenance. He is good at fixing things and improvising. For example, how many dads can kill bugs with a rubber band? By the way, it’s fun to watch!

I enjoy spending time with my dad. He has a great sense of humor and makes us laugh a lot.
Even work can become fun when I’m doing it with Dad. He taught me how to play piano as well as basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, and badminton. Daddy is always there to help me whether with math problems or with my fears.

Honestly, no essay can fully express how blessed I am to be my Daddy’s daughter. He is already Father of the Year every year to me.

~Alyssa Liljequist, age 15
(with my parent’s permission)

By: Tori Bowen

Tori Bowen — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:39:39 +0000

My husband and daddy to my children is without a doubt father of the year and the best dad anyone could have. The kids dad passed away when they were 1 and two, it was a really rough time for all of us, at the time I never could of imagined being blessed with such an excellent husband and father to my children. My daugher Tyanna is now 6 years old and my son Darren is 5, we met their daddy three years ago and he has blessed our lives since then. He treats the kids as if they were his own, he loves them, plays with them, takes them to school, attends all of the event in their lives, and is the best dad a kid could ask for. A little over a year ago we added a new addition to our family, my husbands 5 year old grandaughter Ahlaya. We learned through other family members that she had been having a rough life, her mother had been using drugs, and she had been abused. We quickly stepped into action and got legal custody of her. Leon (my husband) treats all of the kids as if they were his own, he is an excellent role model for them, he helps them with homework, plays with them on the trampolene, and teaches them to have respect for themselves and others. He is the Father of The Year!

By: Shannon Morris

Shannon Morris — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:15:30 +0000

Our dad is the father of the year. Without any doubt. As a stay-at-home-dad to four young kids (Julia, 9, Anna, 7, Adrian 5 and John 3) he has mastered pony tails, laundry, potty training, cooking with Rachel Ray, homework and housecleaning. He gave up his career as a high school math teacher so that mom could focus on hers, and never once acted like he should get an award for it. He shows up at the pool with the kids and chats with all the moms, he makes pumpkin bread for the attendance office, he makes conversation with moms at nursery school drop off, he signs up for snack duty and is proud to get savings from coupon mom.com. Our dad teaches us every day that family comes first and, in his own extraordinary way, delivers guidance, passion, sincerity and tolerance daily. He finds time to be the best soccer and softball and baseball coach while covering off on every need as the dad to three growing girls and one little guy. The role model he is – never giving our children any doubt that both dads and moms are capable of making the house a home – is one that is award worthy. He applies his professional expertise as teacher, his BA in finance and MA in administration in ways I am sure he never imagined possible. The end result? Father of the year.

By: Danny Clifton

Danny Clifton — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:03:46 +0000

I really want my father to win this father of the year award because he is the best dad in the whole entire world he is generous, nice, kind, helpful and most of all the best dad I could ever have he picks me up from karate, he helps me with my school work almost every single day, he takes me to basketball, he takes me to boy scouts, he takes me to soccer, he takes me to run, he takes me to football, taught for my football class, he has went to all of my boyscout camps, he plays catch with me outside whether it is baseball or football he always helps me whenever i am sick or tired, he taught for my basketball for almost 5 years, he comes to some meetings I have at school, i love my dad till the day I was born till the day I die he is so cool he is the best dad in the whole entire world and I would really really really be grateful if my dad got the father of the year award because whenever need someone he’s there.

By: Transparent Mama

Transparent Mama — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:48:00 +0000

Humble. Kind. Gentle. Loyal. Honest. Generous. Affable. Fair. Sincere. Grateful. These are the words that best describe my father, my dad, my daddy. He grew up in a one- room farmhouse where my grandparents raised him along with his four brothers and sisters on the plains of South Dakota. They were extremely poor and lived in one of the last houses in the Dakotas to get electricity. My dad tells stories from his childhood, such as sleeping with snow coming through the windowsills onto the bed he shared with his brothers as if they were the best times of his life.

He does not complain when life gets hard, but rather lives life with joy and purpose. This was tested a few years ago when his wife died from pancreatic cancer. He stayed by her side and cared for her until she passed away. My father was never bitter. He chose to live life and every time I talk to him, he mentions how grateful he is for everything that he has.

As a child, his gentleness and sincerity won me over. My father never raised his voice. He didn’t need to. When I faltered, a mere look of disappointment could bring me to tears. As an adult, his sense of fairness and his wisdom make him the first person I seek when I need counsel. You see, my father is the best simply because he is a truly good man with a heart that loves his children and his grandchildren deeply. He is a man who has taught me how to live with character simply by being who he is. In truth, the words above fall short. They don’t honor my father, who has been my “Father of the Year” each year of my life, nearly enough.

By: Megan Gaskin

Megan Gaskin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:12:44 +0000

My Dad deserves to be “Father of the Year” because everything he has taught me in life, even when I thought he was being strict, has made me become and realize he was preparing me for the future, the real world and wanted what was best for me. My Dad and I weren’t “that” close while I was growing up, but over the past few years, my Dad and I have gotten very close and he has been there every step of the way, in helping all that he can do. Even at 26, I still feel like “Daddy’s Little Girl,” and I know I will always be. One of my favorite memories of my Dad and I, is getting up early on Saturday mornings and sharing a cup of coffee, while Dad read the newspaper. Every time I come home to visit, we still continue to have our morning cup of coffee together. He taught me to be a good person, to know the difference between right and wrong. He also instilled in me that education was extremely important; I always struggled through school, but he was always there to help me and was there to keep me from getting discouraged when I didn’t understand. Years have come and years have gone; I have been taught a lot about life by the wonderful, loving, caring, supportive man, that I am happy to have as my Father. I love you Dad and Thank You for all that you have done for me throughout the years. Love Your Baby Girl!

By: Caitlin Young

Caitlin Young — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:59:06 +0000

What makes my Dad the best is that he plays the role of “Dad” and “Mom” since he has raised me and my older sister as a single parent. He works so hard every day, he has his own business, but he still makes time for ball games, dance recitals, track meets or whatever my sister and I are involved in. We can tell Dad anything. He listens to us vent, he hugs us when we cry, and he corrects us when we need it. Our house burned in December, but my sister and I knew that when Dad said it would all be ok,it would be ok. We knew our dad would work non-stop until he had it built back, and that’s exactly what he did. We know if we need anything, he will make it happen. He’s a “dad” to all our friends as well. They all call him “daddy Matt”. His girlfriend has two boys who he also treats like his own children. We have all become like one big family, and he is the Dad who loves us all. He does everything from play playstation with them to coach them in wrestling or train them at the gym. They would say he deserves the “Dad of the Year” award as well. He also takes care of anything his mother needs since she is a widow. He cuts her grass, takes care of her car, whatever she needs. He is the most unselfish person on the planet! He does all this and still manages to also be the best cook ever! My dad is the best!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:38:43 +0000

Dad, Daddy, and Pappaw. My dad goes by all of these names.

He’s got the biggest heart and hands so large that he can easily hold a newborn. Arms so strong that they could probably lift a small car; but those same arms have always been open for hugs from his 3 beautiful daughters and his one granddaughter.
My dad represents everything a True Dad should be. He has worked as hard as he can, sometimes even harder, to provide for his daughters and his loving wife. And now, he even works to spoil his first grandbaby.
My dad has done so much for me and my two sisters. He has helped support my oldest sister, her husband, and their daughter through the hardest times, even if his own business isn’t doing very well. He is always finding time to do special stuff with his daughters and will drop anything to help us. He is willing to do anything to make sure that we have a great home and loves spoiling us rotten.
Although my dad did not have the best childhood growing up, that has not stopped him from being the best father today. He has done so much and will continue to do alot for me and my 2 sisters, along with his first granddaughter. It is these qualities that make him the absolute best father!

And as a bonus::::HE LOVES PGA! lol

By: Meredith

Meredith — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:50:07 +0000

P.S. My twin sister and I no longer live in the same household