My Dad

November is the month to be grateful, and I have a lot to be grateful for. Wonderful parents, sisters and brothers, good friends, an incredible trainer, wonderful members, and the breathtaking big sky of Montana. But what I want to focus on right now is my Father. I know its not Father's Day, June is a ways away, but I still want to pay tribute to him today. My Dad is amazing. There are a lot of reasons why but what I love most about him is how he has taught me by example of God's love for all of us. In the last Conference President Urchtdorf taught us about God's love for us by relating to us the story of Moses. Moses had grown up as the Prince of Egypt. He has been surrounded by architectural, cultural, and scientific wonders. He has grown up by the side of the Pharaoh-a man revered and respected as a god. He had grown up with every opportunity to have success and wisdom of the world. In essence, he had grown up thinking that man is great, that man has and will accomplish incredible things, that man is everything. But Moses had an experience that would change this forever. He sees God and all He has created. The expanses of stars, planets, and worlds untold. Overcome by the majesty of it all he falls to the ground and proclaims "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed." (Moses 1:10) Who wouldn't feel that way after beholding what Moses saw? And yet in the very same chapter we learn an eternal truth that is vital for us to understand, "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) Despite all that He has created, despite all that He is and will continue to be, God loves us and cares for us so deeply, that WE are His work and His glory. This incredible being cares deeply and individual for us so much that He is willing to do all He can to make sure we have success, that we become, and that we return to Him. Why? Simply because we are His children. We do not have to do anything to qualify for his love. We do not have to prove or accomplish or overcome anything for Him to love us; He already does and He always will-forever. This perfect unconditional love is majestic and humbling. It is something I am still wrapping my head around. But I would like to pay tribute to the man who has taught me more about this than anyone else: My Dad. He is amazing. He has accomplished and overcome incredible things, both in the world and as a worthy Priesthood holder of God. He's an incredible surgeon, can ski both on the lake and mountain, knows doctrine in depth, can fix things from cars to broken hands, and yet this man, highly educated in the world of science and refined spiritually by trial, has and always will love each and every one of his children. I know this because he lets us know by his actions and words every day. I have never in my life met someone who cares so much for his family simply because they are that; his family. No matter what I do or have done, no matter my successes or failures, my Dad has always loved me just the same, because I am his daughter. I could always count on him after a big race, test, or performance to be excited and happy for me despite the outcome. Whether first or last place it was always the same; he was always proud of me and happy for me and glad I had at least tried. His tenderness and love is hard to explain or convey to anyone else, but I feel it so deeply that I know it is there with all my heart. This is exactly how I know our Heavenly Father feels about each and everyone of us. It is impossible to convey or describe, but impossible to deny once felt. I thank my Dad every day for teaching me about the Lord's love for me and every one of his children, and I try everyday to love as he loves. I testify that God loves us, and that really truly feeling that makes all the difference in the world. Its there if we will just recognize it and allow it to enter our hearts and if we do, we will feel and know this is true, and doing so will make all the difference in the world. Thanks Dad for showing me it is there...