Father's Day 2010

Here's one of my favorite family traditions. On the special day, whether it's a birthday or Father's Day/Mother's Day, etc., we take time, before giving a tangible gift, to give our gift of words, sharing what we love and appreciate about the special person during the past year. So with it being Father's Day, I wanted to honor Jack, as the father of our children. So this is what I wrote {and read to him while crying *shakes head*} at Frona's. This particular Father's Day, Maddie is 7 1/ and Jackson just turned 4. Some day I want them to be able to read who their daddy was during this time in their lives.

June 20, 2010

Jack ...

If I were to capture your fathering I would use this word. You are an ENGAGED father. You PLAY with the kids. Chase. Hide-and-seek. You “do” with them. Jackson can hardly wait until you get downstairs from work so that the two of you can rough-house. Bike rides and trips to the park and downtown.
You kiss and hug and snuggle. You tell Maddie she is beautiful. And THAT will go a long, long way in her life.

You teach. Whether it’s sitting down with Maddie and explaining why she can’t do a certain behavior or helping her make a bird house, you teach. You start little traditions with the kids. Whether it’s hearing the kids yell “I see the lake” {when they really don’t see the lake} or seeing the three of you snuggled in watching Little House on the Prairie together. I LOVE THAT. I won’t ever forget that sight.

And one other thing that has stood out to me this past year has been the fact that you have been a FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS. Your spiritual sensitivity to carrying out what is so very important to our Heavenly Father. He commands us to care for others. Widows, orphans, the fatherless. Maryam is absolutely CRAZY about you. You have given her that ‘father’ type input into a little girls’ life that is critical to her social, emotional and spiritual development. And I think of John and Kim’s children. They no longer have their daddy, and you recognize the importance of Godly male influence in their lives. In essence, you are being a father to the fatherless in that situation, too.

I admire that about you. You see a need and your heart’s desire is to meet that need. And I respect that about you. You don’t just say that you should help them out, you help them out. Back to that intentional living thing. You are leading our family by example. You are intentionally living because you love Jesus. THAT is honorable and worthy of great respect.

You really are one AMAZING daddy. Our kids are SO far ahead because they have an ENGAGED father who is loving them and others on purpose. Intentionally. What a gift to them; a gift that will carry them through a life-time. All the research shows that it’s great to have a good mommy, but if children have a good daddy that really makes a significant foundation for handling life’s trials. It sets them on the emotionally healthy path. And YOU provide that for them. You are a GREAT DADDY.

Our family is richly blessed and impacted by your leadership, love and living on purpose.

Thank you, Hunny. Happy Father’s Day

{And here's a challenge to all you out in blog-land ... start this tradition with your family. It feels so good to hear words of affirmation. So good. Share the love, people. Share the love!}

And I leave you with one of my all-time favorite pictures of Jack from last summer.

YOU ROCK, HUN.