Daddy

Today is my dad's birthday. I've been thinking about him all day, and I didn't even get him a card.  I always get him a card.  Sometimes I like those mushy Hallmark "You're a Wonderful Dad" kind of cards, and sometimes I like to get him a silly one with a ridiculous comment about tools or borrowing money or something.  But, this year, this is going to be my card to him because there are no cards to say what I want to say!  Which is....

Thanks, Daddy.  For being my soft place to fall.  For the oreos/milk/coke late nights.  For the candy bars on a trip.  For listening.  For letting me still sit on your lap when I have 3 kids and I wish someone would not need me for just a minute.  For understanding.  For letting me be me.  For supporting and being there.  For quietly loving.  For coming to every fantastic?  piano recital, awards ceremony, play, orchestra concert, etc. etc.  and being proud.  For doing all the girl things on every trip because you were so outnumbered.  For having funerals when our pets died. Some dad might say, "It's just a pet-get over it!"    For the goose incident.  I know how hard that was for you to do, but you did the right thing.  For having a tender heart.  I love that about you.  Thanks for letting me wear your jacket when I was cold in church and playing games on the back of the tithe envelope.  Sorry, Pastor G. For watching Monday Night Football with me. For playing basketball with me, trying to help me and Jamie play catcher/pitcher. You never said one disparaging thing about our softball ability, and I'm sure there was plenty to say.  For taking me along when you had errands and holding my hand for no reason.  For being so funny.  For being so sweet.  For making it so hard to choose a husband, because he had so much to live up to.  For never yelling.  For being gentle.   For playing cars with Owie and tickling Ella and loving Ava.  For never laughing at my stupid questions or dumb blonde moments (do you remember the Stillwater fiasco in college:  oversleeping?).  For being there to walk me down the aisle and being there to hold Mom's hand when Grandpa Tims died.  For letting us see you cry. For showing me so much about being a good person, accepting people for who they are and loving them where they are at.  For loving me & J & D so much that we were confident, strong girls.  I know that that came from having a daddy who was there. Thanks for showing me about being a parent.  I hope Eric and I can measure up.  It'll be tough.

I celebrate you today.  I love you with all my heart.  When you get home, let's have an oreo and a coke.  I'll be waiting.

Starting Out

Well, I decided it might be nice to have a place to ramble about nothing, everything, kids, etc.  Sometimes I feel like the days fly by and the kids say funny things and I hardly reflect on them, or worse, never write them down.  I know I won't remember them later....so I'm starting today!  The one little gem that I want to remember about today is Ella's sweet faith.  A little baby in our church has been diagnosed with leukemia, and I am just heartbroken for them.  I was looking at the pics of her on the computer, and Ella was over my shoulder looking.  I told her that I needed her to help me pray about something, and told her about this baby Emma.  She said, "Mom, let's pray right now!" and we did.  She prayed a simple, sweet prayer for healing and that her parents wouldn't be scared.  I will treasure that little prayer today!  

On a funny note, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or be concerned over the fact that Ella was inviting Owen to spank her teddy bear after being naughty.  They both thoroughly enjoyed it (too much, I thought).  What does that say about our discipline?!  Ha..  Maybe when I say before a spanking, this hurts me more than it hurts you, they really don't believe me!