The old adage says, “A father is someone you always look up to no matter how tall you grow.”  This is true in the case of these three Kern County fathers who have weathered the chaotic childhood years, can now look at their grown children, and know they did something right.  This month’s “The Real Kern County” gives you a unique fatherhood perspective of living life locally.  Paul Sheldon, Jr., CLU, ChFC, owner of his own insurance and benefits planning agency, has been past president of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield Downtown, and a past board chairman of the Salvation Army of Bakersfield.  With his wife, Nesi, they have three children:  Drew, Derek, and Taylor.  Jeff Green, General Counsel to Grimmway Farms, is married to Kern County’s District Attorney, Lisa Green.  Together, they have three children:  Matt, Andrew, and Becca.  Daniel Abella, Major of The Salvation Army of Bakersfield, has been in ministry with The Salvation Army for 28 years where he has worked with people including youth, seniors, and married couples, as well as fed the homeless, helped in natural disasters, and much more. With his wife, Carole, they had four children all at once.  Their quadruplets, born a minute apart, are Daniel, David, Sarah, and Naomi.  Find out what places they enjoy and how they plan to spend their special day. 

KCFM:  What do you carry or display during your work day to remind you of your children? 

PS:  Photos in my office of my three boys as adolescents as well as adults. These photos prompt me to give God thanks for the time on earth He has given me with my three boys so far.

JG:  I have pictures of my kids and me around my office.  We’re usually involved in some fun activity or adventure.

DA:  I have photos in my wallet and displayed in my office. The photos are from various years of their lives from the time they were first born up to their graduation from Azusa Pacific University. I also have in my office copies of the “War Cry,” a Salvation Army magazine when they were featured that I often share with people visiting my office.

KCFM:  If you could plan your perfect Father’s Day celebration, where would you go and what would you do? 

PS:  Spend a few days snorkeling in Hawaii at Sharks’ Cove.

JG:  All of my kids are living away at school or working.  In my perfect Father’s Day dream, I receive a call from each of my kids, in birth order, telling me that they have gotten a job and no longer need me to pay for their tuition, housing, food, books, graduate school applications, pointe shoes, and hair products.

DA:  I would go to Hawaii with my children and wife and visit family and friends. We would spend time at the beach swimming, playing in the water, and having a good time being together.

KCFM:  What’s the best Father’s Day gift you’ve received from your children? 

PS:  Two years ago, my wife, Nesi, composed a DVD of photos throughout the years of my three boys and me, including all my favorite Beatles’ songs as background music. By the time the DVD ended, I was a basket case. My oldest son asked me: “Dad, why are you so sad?” I responded: “I’m not sad; I’m just very proud of all of you.”

JG:  They call from wherever they are and tell me they love me.  It doesn’t get better than that.

DA:  The best father’s day gift I ever received was the birth of my quadruplet children, two boys and two girls. What more could a man ask for? Who could ask for four! Who could ask for more...all at one time!

KCFM:  What activities do you do with your children to bond during the summer? 

PS:  Beach, beach, and more beach.

JG:  Each of my three kids enjoys different activities.  My daughter Becca enjoys shopping, so we’ve gone shopping together.  She wants to go rock climbing this year, so we’ll be climbing together.  She and I plan to climb Mt. Killimanjaro when she graduates.  My son Andrew and I like going to movies, watching TV shows, and going to the gym together.  During the winter, we enjoy downhill skiing.  My son Matthew and I enjoy backpacking and climbing together.

DA:  Now that they are older, if they are able to come home for a short time in the summer, we spend time together doing many things. One of my favorite things is when we lead the worship together as a family during worship services.  We also enjoy table games and meals around the family table.

KCFM:  What is your favorite thing about living in Kern County? 

PS:  The great, lasting memories of growing up in a fledgling small city with a ton of character.

JG:  My wife and I have been able to have successful careers and raise our children in a wonderful home, which allowed them to go to good schools and become incredibly good young adults.  Being within driving distance of Yosemite and the Sierras isn’t bad either.

DA:  The weather is so good—it is not too cold or too hot (we have lived in other cities that were hotter). The day our children were born, it was 122° in that city. Year round, I enjoy being able to be outdoors.