My dad LOVES peanuts. Any kind, every kind.  Growing up we always had a plate of peanuts as a side dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He takes some with him on walks, short or long drives, and even into the movie theaters (we were always kind of embarrassed when he did that!)! Some of the church members found out about his love for peanuts and now we get quite a variety right around his birthday and every year for Christmas. I think with so much peanuts around the house I’ve grown to love peanuts over the years, too and can’t eat certain meals without that extra crunch to go with whatever we’re having. Oh Daddy, look what you’ve done! : )

The other day my mom was talking to my 3-yr old niece Angelina on our family room couch. Lina was bouncing up and down, telling my mom that her daddy promised to take her out to Mimi’s Cafe when he gets back from his business trip. My mom laughed and commented on how it’s always so much fun when Daddys go away (but not, since we miss them so!), because it always means that there’s a treat when they return. My mom looked at me and asked if I remember how my dad used to save his bags of peanuts from his plane ride to bring home for us. Her question triggered memories that I would otherwise have had a hard time recalling.

Why yes, I do remember (I also remember preferring the honey-glazed ones over the salted peanuts). But for the first time those peanuts meant so much more than just a fun snack we got when Daddy came home from out of town. I mean I always knew that my dad loved peanuts, but as a little girl I never thought about how him bringing peanuts home for us meant him not eating his portion on that long flight home and saving them for me and my sisters. Wow. I know this seems like such a small thing and even kind of silly, but I want to cry just thinking about what might have crossed his mind at those moments.

Yes my dad loves peanuts, but he loves his girls at home even more.