I was never “Daddy’s Little Girl.” With six children, there were just too many of us. Not to mention, my father is not the type of person to pick favorites. Despite the fact that I have five brothers and sisters, I never felt unloved or that I didn’t get enough attention. I never doubted my father’s love or devotion. I knew that my father would be there for me whenever I needed him. I knew that my father loved me and that he would do anything I asked. This is true of any man who a child calls “father.” There are many traits that fathers share – love for their children, being providers, keeping their families safe; the list is unending. My father should be the Central Florida Father of the Year because of his legacy of service, his unending sacrifice and his limitless patience.

My father has always made certain that he gives back to his community and that he does not take for granted his good fortune. He is an avid volunteer, in our church - as an usher, a special minister of the Eucharist, and anything else that the church asks of him. He recycles as if it were his job, collecting cans and keeping the “kids” straight by making us recycle also. His demonstration of community service has led to four of his children entering military service. My eldest brother was in the Navy and deployed in support of the Gulf War. Another brother has just retired from the Marine Corps due to injuries that he received on his third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. My youngest sister is in the Army National Guard and has deployed several times in support of hurricane clean-up operations, and I am in the Active Army, currently deployed to Iraq. My other sister’s interpretation of my father’s emphasis on service is to be a nurse. My father has dedicated his life to service; service to his family, service to his community, and service to his God. His emphasis on the importance of giving back for our good fortune has had a profound impact upon the direction his children’s lives have taken.

My father has made so many sacrifices for his family that the list is unending. When I was younger, my father worked two full time jobs. He would get only two hours of sleep every night because, at the time, he had four children and a pregnant wife that depended on him. Because of this, I never saw a lot of my father when I was young. However, when he was home, he spent every minute with my brothers and me. He played with us, read us stories and kept us company. I didn’t have any inkling at the time, but he must have been bone weary and not in any type of mood to do anything but sleep – but he never once raised his voice or lost his temper or let on in any way that he was dragging so low and wanted nothing more than a few hours of quiet so that he could get some rest. I have never known my father not to have two jobs. Thank goodness, that was the last time he had two full time jobs. His sacrifice of basic human needs enabled my family to have food, clothes, toys, security, and stability. My father’s sacrifices have made me reconsider my petty complaints of lacking creature comforts every once in a while. Every day, I count my lucky stars that I have a family that loves me, a roof over my head, a bed to sleep on and a blanket to keep me warm.

With six children, three boys and three girls, my father is going straight to Heaven for the patience that he exhibited while we were growing up. My brothers, like typical boys, were very rowdy and found themselves in trouble more often than not. My father, with the patience of a saint, showed those boys how to be men and they have turned into fine, upstanding men that any father could be proud of. I’m certain that having a daughter could make a man go insane. Now consider that my father has three daughters. The three of us all had very long hair growing up and we were always getting it messy and tangled. I remember that almost every day, the three of us would be sitting in the bathroom while he untangled the mess. We would take turns sitting backwards on the toilet for hours at a time while he painstakingly removed whatever offending object had gotten tangled in our hair. More often than not, it was gum. Even though we were forbidden from chewing it, because we always got it stuck in our hair, he never once yelled or got angry. He very gently removed each and every strand of hair from the gum without using scissors or pulling too hard and hurting our scalps. Unfortunately, I did not inherit my father’s knack for patience, but every day I look back on all those times that he was so patient with us and I am able to draw the strength to try a little bit harder to keep my cool.

I had a very privileged childhood. I grew up in neighborhoods where I never had to worry about thieves or thugs or being gunned down in my driveway. I always had enough food to eat, clean clothes to wear, and a comfortable bed in a room that I could call my own. I have always been extremely grateful for these privileges and I know how lucky I am that I never experienced hunger or cold or any other misfortune that so many unfortunate children experience. I attribute my good fortune to my parents because they were dedicated to ensuring that I never had a need that went unfulfilled. My father should be the Central Florida Father of the Year because he was able to raise six children who turned out to be productive, upstanding, and contributing members of society. We are happy and well-adjusted. One of my brothers now has two sons and he is a wonderful father. I attribute that to the brilliant example that we had of our own father. Our successes in life are a tribute to my father’s parenting.

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland