I was six and we lived on a farm in Lena IL.
There was a creek that ran along side of the one mile drive up to the old farm house.
my brother clint and I would always go down on the creek ice and have our Huck Fin, Tom Sawyer adventures.
It was a beutiful crisp winters day and the ice was frozen solid.
Except for one hole in the ice about 4  ft. in diamiter.
Clint was hacking away on the side of the creek bed with an ice pick just having a good ol time chopping at the ice and earth.
His back was turned to me so he could not see what I was up to.  I was on a tricycle speeding up to that hole in the Ice and I would slam on the brakes and sliiiiiiide across the ice just to see how close I could get to that hole.
Well about my third attempt of Stevil Kenevil, (or so I thought I was)..
I fell right into that damn hole, the current swept me under the ice. My face crashed on the bottom side of the ice, and I could see my brother through the ice on the surface still hacking away. My body instantly froze to my advantage, my left hand some how was grasping the upper edge of the ice. I pulled myself up with all of my might and when my lips broke free of the bone chilling waters I yelled CLINT!!!!! My brother turned and dove across the ice like a base ball player sliding into 1st base. He grabbed my arm just as the current sucked me under a second time.He pulls me out with all his might, and gives me his coat. We were about a half mile down that mile long drive way.
We walked back to the house Clints arm and coat wrapped around me. We made it to the front porch, I was cying, and opens the front door was Dad just laughing his ass off. Oh but he had warm towels in hand ready to go! I sobbed as he dried me off, and I said I fell through the ice. Still laughing he said I know I saw the whole thing!!!!
I never understood why My Dad was laughing? then one day it came to me. It was just the way he was. He found the good in every moment, in every person, in everything! Of course Brother Clint is the true hero here, let us not forget, he saved my life. But I will never ever forget that laugh of joy from our father.
Im sure he was just so happy that i lived, and to see such a thing as me trying to be Stevil Kenevil in my Dads eyes, was probably pretty damn funny.
I miss your laugh Dad, even when I dont understand why your laughing!!! Id give anything to hear it again!!!!!
Love And God Bless!!!!
Your Son,
Steve

Today we decided to take a hike in honor of Grandpop. We started off down Poudre Canyon, knowing the trail we wanted to hike, but couldn't remember the name of it, until we were almost there we remembered the name of the trail was Dadd Gultch. How appropriate!

 We hiked about 2 miles in and found a beautiful place we knew Grandpop would like and we decided to build a cairn in his honor, and decided every time we did this hike we would bring a specal rock to add to it. Destiney searched and searched for a heart rock. She enlisted me to help, and I would pick one up and she would say "no not good enough" this happend many times, until finally I found one she approved of. As she placed her rock on the cairn, she said, she was giving Grandpop her heart, because she loved him so much.

After she placed her rock, I went to take a picture of it, and just as I did, the sun broke through the trees, and shined right on the heart rock, we all broke out in tears, and sobs knowing he had approved too. We named this spot "Grandpop Rock" and will be back to continue placeing our special rocks there in his honor. 

One of my most amazing stories of Dad, is when I was 5 or 6.
The whole Prentice clan would rent these cabins up in Wisconsin.
One day Im kicking up sand on the lake beach bumming around and just kind of lost in the world according to Steve. All the other kids were off doing big kid stuff or whatever, I was there alone and my Dad comes along and says what ya doing son?
So I told him my story, and he says well lets go catch a musky then.
So he gets Mom and a boat and us 3 go out on the lake. The lake is see through crystal blue water, you can see the lillies all the way down to the roots at the bottom of the lake bed.
So my Dad gets me set up with a lure, and Im 100% sure this was his way of keeping me busy, never expecting anything to happen. From out of the depths of the deep blue sea lost in time space and or what ever sci-fi thing you can figure this 5 year old kid is thinking? This Monster pulls me half overboard, Moms screaming, Im holding on to that damn pole for dear life because I know its Dads and I aint letting it go. But I yelled Dad I cant hold em! I cant hold em!
These huge hands and arms wrap around me just in the nick of time pulls me in just enough to gain control, and I try to give the pole to him. But Dad said nope its all you, you caught it. And with his arms wrapped around me and smashing my hands on that rod and real, he made/helped me real that sucker in. It was a 5 ft Musky, I was maybe 4 ft. 1In.. We had a picture of Me and that beast somewhere, I dont know where it went...
Thanks Dad. That was one of the most amazing expiriences in my life, next to seeing my children be born!
God Bless to All
Steve