Many children have been preparing for weeks to celebrate Father’s Day with their dad. Even thought Petie Corell is not a child, at 52 she is excited about celebrating Father’s Day with her dad who still plays an important role in her life.

“My dad traveled a lot when I was a child, but he was always home on the weekends and he made a point of spending most of it focused on us, ” said Ms. Corell. “On Saturday, we would head out early to run errands. On the way home we would pick up fresh donuts and eat them.”

“This has been a year of challenges and transitions for me,” said Ms. Corell. “In the midst of it all I received this note from my dad: ‘Pete – This picture has a peaceful setting and makes one think of you and your cabin. You have worked hard this year making a transition…..During this time you have also changed employers. New challenges are ahead. I feel God has heard your prayers and guided your steps. Between jobs and chores, have a nice vacation. Love you, Dad.’ It is nice to know that your dad is still there for you even when you are grown.”

Thinking back to her childhood, Ms. Corell recalled many instances when her father impacted her life by the example he set. Like the time he gave up his career as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps because he needed to be in the states and available to his family (Ms. Corell has an older brother who is profoundly retarded) or the time he took his neighbor to the hospital.

“When I was in college I came home for the weekend and found my father putting his golf clubs in the bag,” said Ms. Corell. “He looked up and said, ‘your mother reminded me that you were going to be home so I cancelled my game. When you get married you’re supposed to die to self. With the birth of each child that’s born any self that is left a little more dies away.’ In other words, spending time with me was more important than his golf game. Enough said.”

When asked to describe the qualities that she appreciates most in her father, Ms. Corell responded that he is true to his word, dependable, caring, a great sense of humor, fair, interacts well with people of all ages, he isn’t judgmental or self righteous and he makes choices to do the right thing even when it is hard.

“Family has always been important to my father,” said Ms. Corell. “My father told all of us that he prays for us twice a day, once in the morning and before he goes to bed at night. Since I went away to college, I can expect a phone call from my father on Sunday evenings to make sure I am doing okay. Sometimes, I have made choices and my father has said to me, ‘that wouldn’t be what I would do and it wouldn’t be the way I would do it, but if you feel it is the right thing for you, your mother and I will back you.’ I have never questioned my father’s support of me.”

Family members are supposed to love each other just because, but one thing Ms. Corell points out is that it is really nice when you like each other.

“One time when my father was here for a visit, I told him that I really liked him and that even if he weren’t my father, when I had left over brownies I would be knocking on his door. He said he liked me too.”