Lisa and I had the honor of being raised by a great father whose birthday we celebrate today. We credit him with teaching us so much about life, integrity, hard work, the value of a dollar and not making excuses. We were not taught “what” to think, but challenged and taught “how” to think for ourselves. He taught us the importance of hard work, knowing when to push us to do better, work harder, and when to back off and let us find our own path. From him we learned right from wrong, and to remain mindful of how our choices affect others. Through his actions he showed us how to appreciate, support, and value others without being judgmental or intolerant. He holds personal responsibility in high esteem; "no excuses, just get it done" is something I can remember to this day. We grew up hearing that life is not always fair, but you choose how you will respond to it. By his lead we grew up knowing that family is the most important thing. Even though we may be different and somet