PROUD TO BE HIS DAUGHTER

Growing up, anytime anyone would find out my last name, they would ask me if I was Gary Bengtzen's daughter.  I never had to hesitate, I always knew that I could proudly say that yes, I was.  Today as I was picking raspberries, enjoying the perfect fall temperature, and listening to my friend's lively chatter, my friend and I put together that I grew up in the same neighborhood as her grandma.  Her dad popped his head up from the next row of raspberries over, and asked me if my dad was Gary Bengtzen.  He went on to tell me that he grew up with my dad, went to high school with him, that my dad was an amazing bishop to his mother.  "Your dad is a great man",  he said.  I could have listened to him talk about my dad all day, and my heart ached  all the way home.  I get so caught up in my everyday life that I can almost forget how much I miss my dad.  I miss the giggle he would have had as we moved Brittani into the "U", or how proud he would have been as he watched Nathan playing the saxophone.  I will miss him on the sidelines of Connor's football game, telling me how proud he is that Rick takes time out of his busy schedule to coach, telling me that Connor played a perfect game.  I love you and miss you dad.  I have always been proud to be your daughter.I