“He is absolutely the best father — my greatest friend. He’s the best husband for my mom, the best father for all of us children and he’s so smart. I aspire to be just like him,” said Joshua Fowler.

That was Joshua’s Father’s Day tribute to his dad, Scott.

The older Fowler is ‘Pastor Scott’ to his flock at Spring Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Montevallo. He has earned a special Father’s Day celebration as he and Linda are the parents of seven children, ages seven to 20. They are Hannah, Joshua, Rebekah, Sarah, Jonathan, Elizabeth and Daniel.

When folks ask Scott why he had such a big family, he tells them about his children.

“I am so proud of all of the kids,” he said. “And I think that the world is a better place because they are here.”

He goes on to explain that sometimes the responsibility seems overwhelming, but the world needs more people like those his children promise to become. He explains, too, that they all love the Lord and the Lord has been good to them.

Rebekah fervently seconded her brother’s comments about their dad.

“He’s so much fun; he loves to take us on camping trips, even when we’re not so enthusiastic,” Rebekah said. “He always tries to give us the best he can and he’s concerned about what’s going on in our lives. I want a husband just exactly like my dad.”

Father’s Day at the Fowlers’ will be busy. Hannah will be missed; she is on a mission trip in Honduras, but the rest of the family will be there.

They’ll have breakfast as usual. They’ll all go to Sunday school and church, have a big lunch, perhaps go to the park for some fun together, and then back to church for the activities there. That’s a day many fathers will envy and it’s a day well deserved by this fine man.

Catherine Legg can be reached by e–mail at clegg2@bellsouth.net.