About a week ago, I began a contest titled “Daddy’s Little Girl” that would give our dedicated Nashelle supporters a chance to win a necklace if they submitted a photo and a description. I didn’t know what to expect and we didn’t want Father’s Day to go unrecognized by all of us at Nashelle. We loved reading the incredible stories and looking at the pictures from all of our Mother’s Day submissions so we thought we’d give it another chance for Father’s Day.

Again, the results were more than amazing! The stories….again…so moving. While all of them were so unique and beautiful to read there was definitely an overall theme of appreciation, dedication and love for Dads. I can’t possibly post all of the stories on our blog because there were so many, but these are a few. We hope that you enjoy reading them and thank you to everyone that shared your stories and photographs.

Joey Tillson, Ketchikan AK

My dad is the most amazing man in the world.  A Vietnam Veteran who moved his family to a better place than what he grew up with, went to night school to work his way up the corporate ladder while providing for his five children and my mother.  A Deputy Director of Corrections before retirement. When my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor and pancreatitis, my dad was by her side.
A single mother struggling to care for my child and provide food on the table, a roof over our heads and good health for both my child and me.  One day my dad says, “Joey, get your daughter and meet me in the car.”  I loaded up my young 3 year old daughter.  He took me to the store and proceeded to buy me $500.00 worth of groceries, knowing I was too proud to ask for help.
Now he is Post Commander for the VFW in Ketchikan, Alaska.  He is also the Alaska Native Brotherhood President for our community.  He is continually providing his love and support for others.  He represents both veterans and his heritage to fight for the rights of his people.  He meets with government officials to right the wrongs done from the past.
But above all else, he became my dad when my biological father was lost to addiction.  He filled the shoes of a dad without genetically being obligated to do so.  He became my dad out of love for my mother’s children.  That is what makes him the best father in the world and everyday should be celebrated to honor him for the love and commitment he makes to others.
Joey Tillson

Callie Geser
I am Charlie Anne Geser, I am only 14 months old but am very much a daddy’s girl! I attached a picutre of me and daddy, Ryan. I am the cute one on his shoulders. Daddy flies helicopters for the Army and left for Afghanistan via Ft.Hood Texas yesterday and will be gone for 12 months so it’s just me and mommy for awhile. I know I am not old enough to wear your fabulous jewelry…but my mommy is!

Love,
Charlie Anne Geser

Janice Herberger

This is a picture of my dad, Robert Alvarez, who died in 1970 when I was 16 years old.  Kissed him goodnight, woke up in the morning to find him gone - my mother found him dead in bed, heart attack at 46 years old.

My father is/was special because those 16 years that I was blessed enough to have him totally formed the rest of my life and the person I turned out to be. He taught me more in 16 years than some parents teach their children in 70 years.  He instilled in me values, morals, compassion, kindness.  I miss him today as much as the day he died.

We didn’t have much money, but he worked 2 jobs to make sure we got everything we needed - and what we got most of all was love.

He’s always in my heart and I thank God for letting me “borrow” him for 16 years. Even though he’s gone, to me, Father’s Day is still for him, and he is still and always will be my father.

Janice Herberger

Painesville, Ohio