OKAY CONTINUE ON...
my whole life people have stopped me...you look familiar...do i know you?
my response is always the same. "i look just like my dad. my dad is the president of cvca. dr. roger taylor." and then their faces light up "YES that is it...I LOVE RT!" it never fails. everyone loves him. and i am so so blessed.
my dad turns 60 on saturday. as i type that i can't believe it. oh my lamb he means more to me than many people will ever know. i love him so.
in september we had the amazing opportunity to throw him a giant surprise party for his 30 years at cvca. the day was beyond overwhelming. i decided to share the speech here i gave at that party...to maybe give you a little insight into just how amazing he is.
you are lucky people...on here you wont experience the dramatic bursts of tears or me shouting in the middle of my speech "i'm gunna need some water." YES. i tell the truth. never a dull moment with me around. oh and i should mention...it wasn't just me in tears. the whole place was in tears. Jordyn had to remind everyone that we werent giving eulogies.
here it goes.
Daddy,
There are so many things about you
that I love. I really am not sure where to begin. From the moment I was born 23
years ago you have loved me unconditionally. You have been a prayer warrior, a
best friend, a dad, a backyard baseball coach, a listener, a great example, and
one of my hero’s. You have had the best qualities that Jordyn, Seth and I could
ask for in a dad, and It didn’t take me long to realize that you have been this
for many other people as well. Also, the three of us turned out pretty great…so
I think you did the job!
Today marks 30 years of you being
at “the academy” I am so thankful that the Lord called you to CVCA, and you
have stayed here all these years. Dad, honestly, CVCA is my other family. This
school, which was built upon Godly standards, and these people inside, helped
shape me from the moment I was born and everyone there was praying for me. I do
not know what life would be like if I hadn’t had the opportunity to come here.
The people here have so elegantly represented what a Christian community looks
like, and I had the incredible opportunity to literally grow up here, and watch
some of these people become like family. Also, if you had never come here, you
wouldn’t have ever been “RT.”
So I came up with 30 things in
honor of 30 years. 15 of my favorite qualities about you, and 15 things that I
love about you, that you have taught me, a favorite memory or two, and I may
have added a few one liners from our favorite movie to keep you laughing, and
to keep me from crying. And don’t worry people…I’ll talk as fast as I can. And
mama t – don’t cut me off. I know you are the first lady, but as the first
daughter I think I can exceed the time limit by a minute.
15 words that describe you
Godly
Husband
Servant
Compassionate
Humble
Genius
Encourager
Comedian
Father
Loving
Strong
Kind
Honest
Emotional – in all the best ways of
course
Prayer Warrior
15 random things.
Thank you for loving mom so
beautifully. I heard once that the best thing a father can do for his children
is to love their mother well, and you have done just that.
Thank you for reading your bible
every day, praying on your walks and continuously strengthening your
relationship with the Lord. It has been an amazing example to me, as well as
many others.
Thank you for teaching me that
there is no greater singer in all the world than James Taylor, and thank you
for dancing with me down on “copperline”
Let us not forget the inevitable
board meeting night phone call…”hey dad, could you get me Wendy’s, I’m
starving.”
Thank you for giving me your brown
eyes. I love being your brown-eyed girl, and I forgive you for telling me you
wrote the song and let Van Morrison record it.
Sunset Beach---It’s a “tradition
unlike any other” and a “vacation from our problems!”
Thank you for never giving up on
me. And never letting me give up on myself. I can’t even count the times I said
“dad I’m quitting…” to which you replied “have you ever quit anything
before…we’re Taylor’s…we don’t quit.” “I don’t care I’m quitting.” …. and the
next morning i would walk into the kitchen. “Alright FINE I wont quit.” and you
always give me the roger affirmation look...to let me know i made the right
decision.
Thank you for teaching that one
spring day me that despite my best guess, there is a eagle and a birdie...but a
hole in one in golf is not a “chick”
Let us remember nights spent in the
piano room with history books on the floor, ending with me in tears and mom
having to say “she’s not getting her doctorate in this rog...she’s in the 8th grade.”
"but what about bob!?"
"dr. marvin? Dr. leo marvin? Oohhh the fam!” “you can call me RT in
my office…but in my home I’d like you to call me Dr. Taylor.” “Good Morning
America’s Here!”
Thank you for raising Jordyn and
Seth the way you did…I could not have asked for better siblings.
Thank you for teaching me to clean
my glasses off using clean underwear…and I’m sorry I told my kindergarten
teacher…and I’m sorry I just told everyone here!
Thank you for showing me what a
true Christian man, husband, father, son and brother looks like. You serve the
Lord so well. I know it hasn’t always been easy, but you have always followed
exactly what the Lord has asked of you. You are courageous, faithful, strong,
and joyful in your walk with the Lord, and as a daughter I think that is the
best thing in the whole world to watch.
Thank you for loving me so well
through every obstacle. You have been such a rock for me dad. I know it hasn’t
been easy for you, but you have put your game face on and walked with me
through the unimaginable. I know my spunk and sass can be overwhelming
sometimes, and I know I’m a total drama queen, but you have handled everything
so well. Thank you also for always believing in me. I know I dream big and I’m
a free spirit, and I know sometimes it scares you. But, not once have you ever
told me that I couldn’t do something…even if it meant I had to learn the hard
way. You are amazing dad. You are one in a million, and you mean more to me
than you will ever know.
I love you very much, I think you
are special and I am very proud of you!
Love,
Shelby Elyse ... aka ... Weezer ...
aka ... Trooper
Well thanks for reading a little bit about my dad. he is pretty neat.
Blessed by a heavenly Daddy,
Shelby Elyse
