As a mother, I know all too well how a parent’s heart just swells with pride when they look at their children. We are delighted and awed by the amazing little people our children are, and I can only imagine how amazing it will be to watch my girls grow up and see their personalities come into full bloom. Doesn’t it blow your mind to realize that your parent or parents love/loved you this much, too??

But today I don’t want to talk about how much I love my kids or how much my parents love me. I want to talk about how proud I am of my father and how much I love him! He’s the hardest working person I have ever known, and has spent decades working as a sheet metal mechanic so that he could provide for his family. That work is back-breaking and it has nearly broken him on several occasions, but he hasn’t stopped for longer than was medically necessary.

I’m so happy to report that he is now retired from that line of work. Unfortunately, his retirement came about due to the plant where he worked closing down. But I honestly believed that job would eventually kill him, so even though the financial stress of not having that job is a reality for him, I can’t help but be happy that he isn’t there any more.

Part of the reason why I’m so thrilled is because he now has more time to pursue a passion of his, which is decoupage. My dad has been doing this type of art for as long as I can remember. I distinctly remember a trunk he created with pictures of his family all over it. I don’t think I was more than 4 or 5 when he made it. He has his own unique style that admittedly, not everyone can appreciate. He calls it “collage-a-page” because it is decoupage but with a collage-type style to it.

If you look closely at any of his pieces, though, you will really be blown away by the stories they tell. So much thought goes into where each image is placed, and there are so many little hidden treasures just waiting to be found. This is what makes dad’s art so special and not just a craft or a hobby.

I am so proud of him, and so proud that thanks to help from my older brother, he now has a Facebook page where he can start to display some of his pieces. He can also take requests for custom designs. And his work is affordable, too, as he says that the process of making these pieces is therapeutic for him, and he considers it part of his payment. 🙂

I want the world to see what unique and fun art my father makes, and I can’t think of a better forum to do that than through Facebook (unless, of course, the Met wants to display his pieces, in which case they should send me an email!). Each Facebook like my father receives fills him with joy. He carefully watches to see where folks who like him are from and it just tickles him to no end when someone he doesn’t personally know “likes” his page.

So let’s give my dad the best two weeks ever. The contest will end on his birthday, and I can’t think of a better gift for him than for his Facebook page to grow!

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This contest is self-sponsored. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.