A Father's Day Message to you, from FL Gov Jeb Bush

www.myflorida.com ^ | June 15, 2003 | FL Gov Jeb Bush

[summer]

Jeb Bush, FL’s Favorite Governor

Statement by Governor Bush on Father’s Day:

"For decades, Americans have been honoring our fathers the third Sunday in June in recognition of the vital role they play in our lives and their importance to the American family. This Sunday, I will honor the most important man in my life in celebration of this uniquely American tradition.

"This Father’s Day, I encourage all Floridians to express their respect, gratitude and appreciation for the special men in their lives who have embraced the challenge and rewards of fatherhood, and fulfilled their duties by loving, nurturing and inspiring children.

"We should also take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of the men who have assumed this critical role for fatherless children in our communities. These acts of compassion, mentoring, and teaching can fill the void in child’s life, and remind us that the primary role of fatherhood is defined by love."


Gov Jeb Bush embraces his dad, Nov 2002.


Gov Jeb Bush, his wife, Columba, and their children, George P., Noelle and Jebby

[summer]

Warmest wishes for a Happy Father's Day to all the fathers here on FR! Also, a very special thank you to all those brave dads who have served in the military or are serving now. You are in our thoughts and prayers each and every day!

Love, summer :)

[summer]

To all the FL dads, Happy Father's Day! :)

[summer]

A Happy Father's Day to you! :)

[summer]

A Happy Father's Day to you! :)

[summer]

A Happy Father's Day to you! :)

[summer]

Happy Father's Day to you! :)

[windchime]

Bump!

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Many thanks, summer. This Father's Day looks like it's going to be especially meaningful -- as my wife just informed me about 5 minutes ago that it's just about time for us to go to the hospital for the birth of our 5th child!

So you definitely pinged me at a time when the excitement of fatherhood is running high... your prayers and those of all on this thread would be greatly appreciated for a healthy, happy mom and a healthy, happy baby.

Gotta go now -- I (literally) am just about to jump in the shower, and this definitely is "series"!

8-)

PS - I know someone will wonder -- it's a boy!

[zip]

Summer, thank you for the ping. AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL.

[MeekOneGOP]

Happy Father's Day, Dad !!

[WestTexasWend]

Thanks, Summer, for posting this. Missing my sweet dad today...our first Father's Day without him. He was a life-long conservative, through the days when the few Republicans in our part of Texas couldn't vote in primaries because the county refused to print the ballots (no local candidates running on the ticket). Glad he lived long enough to see the "Texas turn-around".
Thankfully, he and mom passed on the gene and raised five conservative children who honor him and his kind today.

[scouse]

"For decades, Americans have been honoring our fathers the third Sunday in June in recognition of the vital role they play in our lives and their importance to the American family.

Thanks Summer: I wonder why the members of NOW don't recognize this fact.

[NonValueAdded]

Summer, thank you! NVA

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Summer

[I got the rope]

Thanks...BTTT!

[summer]

Celebrate! Holidays In The U.S.A.

Father's Day (Third Sunday in June)

The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honored by their children. On the third Sunday in June, fathers all across the United States are given presents, treated to dinner or otherwise made to feel special. .

The origin of Father's Day is not clear. Some say that it began with a church service in West Virginia in 1908. Others say the first Father's Day ceremony was held in Vancouver, Washington.

The president of the Chicago branch of the Lions' Club, Harry Meek, is said to have celebrated the first Father's Day with his organization in 1915; and the day that they chose was the third Sunday in June, the closest date to Meek's own birthday!

Regardless of when the first true Father's Day occurred, the strongest promoter of the holiday was Mrs. Bruce John Dodd of Spokane, Washington. Mrs. Dodd felt that she had an outstanding father. He was a veteran of the Civil War. His wife had died young, and he had raised six children without their mother.

In 1909, Mrs. Dodd approached her own minister and others in Spokane about having a church service dedicated to fathers on June 5, her father's birthday. That date was too soon for her minister to prepare the service, so he spoke a few weeks later on June 19th. From then on, the state of Washington celebrated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Children made special desserts, or visited their fathers if they lived apart.

States and organizations began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Father's Day. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea, but it was not until 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event to "establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations." Since then, fathers had been honored and recognized by their families throughout the country on the third Sunday in June.

When children can't visit their fathers or take them out to dinner, they send a greeting card. Traditionally, fathers prefer greeting cards that are not too sentimental. Most greeting cards are whimsical so fathers laugh when they open them. Some give heartfelt thanks for being there whenever the child needed Dad.

[summer]

Re your post #8 - WOW!!!! Congrats to you and yours, Luke Skyfreeper!! :)

[summer]

Thanks for bumping this thread, windchime. :)

[summer]

Thanks for bumping this thread, windchime. :)

[summer]

I'm sure he knows you're thinking about him today, WestTexasWend. :)

[summer]

Nice photo of your dad there, MeeknMing! :)

[summer]

LOL... :)

[summer]

Thanks so much for your post on this thread. Hope you are having a peaceful and blessed day. If you'd like to know more about the origin of Father's Day in the USA, see my post #16. :)

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Re your post #8 - WOW!!!! Congrats to you and yours, Luke Skyfreeper!! :)

Thanks... not time for congrats just yet, but we're getting there...

I just returned home briefly from the hospital to fetch my wife's favorite pillow (hospital is only 10 mins from home) & of course I took a moment to check into FR... lol...

At this moment contractions are just now getting into a regular pattern, and still about 12 minutes apart. I think we're still probably at least a couple hours away and maybe more. But we're definitely on the road here.

Well, gotta head back, I've been gone 20 minutes already... 8-)

[Luke Skyfreeper]

And a happy Father's Day to all the other dads on this thread!

[Luke Skyfreeper]

And a happy Father's Day to all the other dads on this thread!

[lilylangtree]

A wonderful and joyful Father's Day to you! Already talked with my Dad. He's in great spirits and I feel blessed.

[Brad’s Gramma]

You had BETTER NOT respond to this, young man........

WE WANT THE DETAILS after you get home.

A most wonderful Father's Day to you!!!

[JustPiper]

As to you Summer, thats very sweet! I am a Dad to my oldest btw, but Mom to my two youngest LOL!

[windchime]

Father's Day bump!

[MeekOneGOP]

:O)

[exit82]

Bump for summer--and thanks for the Father's Day wishes.

[potlatch]

Thanks summer, my husband had a great day, and I hope you and all FReepers did too!!

[potlatch]

Wow!! What could be better on Fathers Day than to be waiting for a new little boy! A prayer said for the new little baby.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

WHOO-HOO!!!! The deed is done!!!

(Brad's Gramma wrote:)

WE WANT THE DETAILS after you get home.

WELL --

It was rough going, but we made it.

We got almost to the finish line, and then just stalled... for like 2 hours, 3 hours??? A long time.

No progress. I can't tell you how disappointed my wife was. :-p

The doctor came in and said, "If there's no progress in the next 30 minutes, we're looking at a C-section."

30 minutes later, the nurse checked my wife.

Still no progress. None. Still stalled, almost at the finish line.

Meanwhile, my wife was majorly losing it. The pain medication had worn off completely 2 hours earlier, she couldn't have any more, and she was beyond the limit. She was at the point of begging for a C-section, just for the pain relief.

At the same time, her behavior (and desperation) seemed a bit familiar. It was similar to how she would behave at transition, which would have meant delivery was imminent -- yet there was obviously no progress. I put the thought mostly out of my mind.

About another 10 or 15 minutes and the doctor finally poked his head in the door. Everyone had agreed to the C-section (we really didn't want a c-section, but you do what you have to do). We were packed, prepped and ready to go. The consent form was signed.

The doctor said, "Sorry, but we're going to have to wait a little bit -- we have 2 emergencies in there now, and our anesthesiologists are all busy."

That was the very LAST news my wife wanted to hear (especially since she realized it was going to take another half hour just for an epidural to kick in).

While we were all still discussing this (and my wife was reeling in shock at the horrible thought of enduring the unendurable for another hour), the nurse checked her again -- and reported it seemed like there might actually be a little bit of progress.

She turned and walked toward the sink.

About 10 seconds later, another nurse suddenly let out a yell!

I was standing closest and automatically reached out and put my hand lightly on the baby's head to keep him from popping out too quickly. In retrospect, I think both the doctor and the nurses were all just caught completely by surprise, because it was probably another 10 seconds before any of them even moved!

Then the doctor took over (nice, since that's what he gets paid for -- it was also nice of him to pop in for the birth, LOL), and in another half a minute or so, we had an official delivery.

Our son weighs 8 1/2 pounds, and is lovely. Looks a lot like his 3 sisters and his brother! Lots of dark hair. Hair & eye color vary in our family, but look at the faces & you can tell they're all brothers & sisters.

Well, that was at 845 pm on Father's Day. It's after 2 am now, and I've finally just gotten home. Everybody is doing great.

Anyway, many thanks for your prayers. They were definitely needed -- and answered.

See you manana. Gotta get some sleep!

[floriduh voter]

I'm bumping this to the top since I'm not a dad. BTTT for dads, uncles and brothers everywhere.

[Brad’s Gramma]

BABY BOY BUMP!!!

[summer]

WOW again! What a day you had, Luke Skyfreeper!!!!! Thanks for these updates. Glad everyone in your NEWLY expanded family is OK! :)

[Luke Skyfreeper]

WOW again! What a day you had, Luke Skyfreeper!!!!! Thanks for these updates. Glad everyone in your NEWLY expanded family is OK! :)

Thanks!

I just got half an hour ago from taking the other 4 to meet their new baby brother. All four unanimously and enthusiastically agreed that he's well worth keeping. :-) In fact, it was quite difficult to drag them out of there.

Yep, after yesterday's adventure was all over, I turned to the one nurse who had helped us the whole time and said, "That wasn't exactly the traditional way to do it, was it?" She readily agreed it was not. :-)

[potlatch]

So glad to hear about your new son!! Can't beat that for a Fathers day gift, and I'm happy for you and your wife. I appreciate you letting me know about it! Blessings for the new baby.