We got lots of great responses to our Fathers Day essay contest, and today seemed like, well, the perfect day to share them with you all.   One qualifying entry was selected at random, and the writer received a gift code she could use for a free four-dish session at Let’s Dish! To everyone who entered, we say thanks for sharing what makes your dad special, and please enjoy this special day with him…

 Our finalists:

“Steve is a fantastic involved father. He’s coached every sport our kids have ever played whether or not he ever played them himself (except cheerleading, but he’s at all the competitions and he even made a routine suggestion to the coach that the coach liked!) He plays mom and dad January to April when I am busy with work, runs everyone to their activities, assists with projects and makes dinner. Pizza used to be the staple during tax season, but he’s really improved his cooking skills over the years. Let’s Dish has been a lifesaver during tax season; it’s taught him to experiment too. He’s always there for his kids and they are the number ONE priority in his life. Family will always come before everything else, and that’s the key.”  - Claudia [essay drawn as winner]

“My husband is the most amazing father and person I have ever known. He is currently a Army Chaplain Canidate, working on his Masters in Divinity while serving as a Children’s Pastor for a local Church Plant. During this season in our lives, I (his wife) am working full time to support us, while he cares for our children (ages 3 and 5) at home. He is often responsible for preparing meals, laundry, and giving hugs, all while balancing school and church demands. He deals with is all gracefully and is always loving, reliable, and full of humor. I know how much he would appreciate this gift. We love Let’s Dish!”  - Chrissy

“My husband has been a great Dad since our son was in utero (9 months of morning sickness meant I didn’t eat -let alone cook- much during my pregnancy!) I had a hard recovery, and he was extremely supportive, changing most of our son’s diapers, washing bottles while I pumped, and cooking dinner the first few weeks while I recuperated. In fact, 18 months I will admit that except for the nights I cook “Let’s Dish” or suggest something similarly easy like takeout, my husband is still the designated cook! And he still changes diapers (though not as many, hmmm…) and does the dishes. He also tries to take our son for a walk every day so they can spend time together and so Mommy can have some quiet time to relax (or catch up on laundry!)” - Andrea

“Greg is such a great dad - he is funny, lovable, affectionate and no-nonsense with two boys, 3 and 5. He is also a great dad because he is such a great husband. He works full-time taking care of HIV+ patients and doing clinical and public health research. He does absolutely everything our boys need - pays the bills, cleans, does the dishes, yardwork, is the best bath giver ever, washes their hair (which is torture), brushes teeth, tidies up - is there anything else? He makes meals which include french toast, pancakes, and grilled cheese. He is not a gourmet cook, but is always happy to take care of the boys so that i can go to lets dish and make nutritious and well-balance meals for our family! That has to be the best dad ever!” - Cynthia

“My husband Eric is a wonderful husband and the best daddy ever to our 9 month old son Parker. He takes care of Parker while I work night shift as a nurse. Eric spends his every other weekend (after working all week) getting up with Parker all night long and stays up with him when I get home from work exhausted in the morning and lets me sleep. He fixes me dinner every once in a while when I’ve had a hard day and does a good job in the kitchen when he tries. He has a “special touch” in putting Parker to bed some nights when I just can’t do it & can change a diaper in the most ridiculous places without barely a gripe! I just want to thank him for being such a great daddy and a wonderful husband for his first father’s day ever!” - Jamie

“Our dad loves us and cares for us. He always works hard but still has time to spend with us. Our dad knows that sometimes the little things are the ones that mean the most, like when he brings home McDonald’s after swim practice. Our dad is always the first to admit if he’s wrong. Once a preacher preached on Father’s Day about what a dad should be, and it turned out that he based his sermon on Dad. When we were little and he was reading to us he’d change the words to make us laugh. When our parents bought a treadmill, Dad turned the box into a playhouse, and we played in it and decorated it for weeks. We later turned it into a dressing room to use with the stage he built. Dad not only tells us that he loves us, but he shows us every day.” - Amy, Sara, Christina and Laura

“Many call Chris a HERO because he served a tour in Iraq. He’s our HERO because of the type of father he is for 3 children. He shows them daily he loves them. He continued to be an active part of their lives during his deployment. We made decisions together (over the internet). He video taped himself reading stories for our toddler. He sent email to our teen to let her know he was there if she needed an ear. The day he came home it was so obvious he’d done a great job. They could barely contain themselves. Its true they missed him not being here. But, they never missed him being their father. 10 months later, we welcomed our son, Robert into our family. And YES, Chris changes diapers. Help us to recongized him for the HERO he truely is.” - Tawnya

“My dad, Jeremy Clayton, is always trying to do the best for us (me, my brother Christopher, and my mom). He is very funny. He encourages us all the time and says “good job” when we do well and “keep on trying” when we are having trouble. My dad tries to make great food for our family - and he succeeds. He is the best cook I’ve ever seen. And he loves Let’s Dish food. He really deserves to win some free meals because of all of his hard work at home and for his job. I will help my dad make the meals at Let’s Dish if he wins! He is the best dad in the world!” - Meghan (8 years old)