Vote for Eric!!

Many of you got the e-mail, but for those that didn't - please read! 

I entered Eric in the Maricopa City "Father of the Year" contest (shhh! :)). He has a chance to win one of three prize packs from our local Ace Hardware for Father's Day. I would so love for him to win - he was an out of this world dad already, but the events of the last couple of years have proved him even more. He has gone above and beyond for our family and for our girls. I think it would be so neat for him to win a little something just for him - because, like all good dads, he doesn't get/do things for him very often. But we need your help for him to win!

The contest is open to Maricopa dad's only but there are 60 dads nominated and only three winners! The winners are chosen by voting only. All you have to do is go to this link: http://www.inmaricopa.com/Article/2012/06/08/father-of-the-year-inmaricopa-contest-ace-hardware and then click on the "vote" link and select "Eric Hoffman". Voting is open until 3 p.m. on June 15. Please go vote today!

Also, if you have friends/family who know our story and know what an incredible dad Eric is, could you forward this e-mail on to them/repost it on facebook/blog/etc. and ask them to take a second to click over and vote for him as well? I'd really appreciate the help! (And have your spouse go vote as well! :))

Thanks everyone! I'm pasting the little nomination write-up that I did below. I had to keep it short, but I could have gone on forever. :)

Eric is probably not the average nominee most people would picture for a “Father of the Year” contest. He’s just 29, has two kids, and has only been a father for about 5 years. That might seem a little young and “unseasoned” for such a prestigious title. But I contend that in the 4 2/3 years that Eric has been a father, he has earned the “Father of the Year” title 100 times over. He has faced enormous challenges in every area of life. He has come up against odds that most people would shrink back and just give up under. But his dedication, work ethic, compassion, strength, sense of humor, love, and the enormous duty he feels to provide and protect his family have carried him through.

Eric works harder than almost anyone I know to provide for our family – without complaint or fail. He just silently and dutifully does what needs to be done. When we faced a lay-off while he was going to school full-time to complete his degree, he worked two jobs at a time on top of his school work to try and provide for us. I remember nights where he didn’t arrive home and collapse into bed next to me until 2 or 3am because he went on campus after work to finish up assignments and projects. And then he was up by 7am to do it all over again.

A little over two years ago, our oldest daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia. We were a “struggling student” family, with two small kids, a business to run, and Eric’s degree to finish. It was the most difficult thing we have ever faced. But Eric shone through it. He showed us all what really mattered – our daughter; our family. He was so tender and sweet with our daughter. He spent many nights in the hospital crammed into a little hospital bed with our daughter, so that I could have the one fold out bed in the room and so he could be near our sweet girl. When our daughter felt well enough to get out of bed, he carried her to the window to look outside and sat on the couch playing “My Little Ponies” with her. On top of his already heavy load, we added cancer. And he carried it with such strength and grace and love.

Our girls love their daddy so much! There is no one who can make them laugh like he does. He is such a strength to our family and we all love him so dearly. I would love to be able to give such a wonderful prize to a truly deserving man as a small thank you for being one of the most incredible fathers anyone could imagine.

Right now it's a close race between him and two other dads, with another couple not too far behind. Eric was in the lead, but last night another dad jumped up from behind and is starting to pull away. Let's get him back in front if we can! :) Thanks for your support!! I think this would just be the neatest Father's Day surprise for him.

Vote for Eric! http://www.inmaricopa.com/Article/2012/06/08/father-of-the-year-inmaricopa-contest-ace-hardware