"Your dad is AMAZING Ashley lovell, don’t forget that."

jennifer said this about my dad in an email to me today. how appropriate it is to read such words on his 58th birthday. so appropriate that i thought i'd let you all know how great he is as well.

many years ago, my dad scribbled out a list of his top 10 favorite things about me, and taped it to the mirror of the bathroom one morning. i'd like to use this blog as my mirror to my father, so that we can all read the list i'm taping up for him today.

1-completely in love with God's word, so much so that he forsakes sleep, waking up and setting out to be with God for the first 90 minutes of everyday. he's literally done this as long as i can remember.
2-forgiveness. he practices it. he taught me the importance of it, of dealing with the emotions you feel but forgiving the person whose behavior inflicted them upon you.
3-health. he's a healthy man, almost disgustingly so. he's athletic and fit and motivated to stay that way.
4-the infamous disease. he talks to EVERYONE. it was so annoying as a kid, but apparently it's hereditary. he loves connecting with people.
5-boldness. he says exactly what he thinks, and it's always biblically based, due to #1. he's not afraid of people rejecting him for his words of truth.
6-humor. oh my gosh. i laugh more with this man than any other person i know. he's like a kid sometimes.
7-new-found sense of adventure. after his escapades in northeast burma, peeing in jungles (he's never admit to that), riding in rickety ski boats through asian rivers, and playing baseball with buddhist monks, he's seen that there's alot more to life than numbers and desk jobs.
8-goals. he sets them and taught me to do the same. he showed me that goals create a sense of acheivement, which fosters a healthy self-image.
9-prayerfulness. this man prays for you if you even slightly suggest needing it. even if you have a certain look on your face, he'll approach you at church, at the Y, outside in a heavy rain. prayer is more important than anything else to him.
10-he's one of my best friends. because of all these other things. and because he's just starting life, really.

happy birthday dad. i love you and miss you and will see you soon.