Father's Day

Mike had to work today, Father's Day. After church we headed up to the fire station so the kids could give him their cards and gift. The kids all picked out cards and signed them all by themselves. Michaela's way of signing her dad's card was by scribbling all over it and drawing a large spider because she knows how to draw circles and lines, and so drawing spiders are her favorite thing. She likes to draw them and hold it up to Mike and ask him, "How many legs does he have, Daddy?" He will guess and then she will add some more and ask again. This continues until she can't squeeze anymore legs on her "spider." Michaela adores her father. When she wakes up in the night afraid, she asks for him. And I try not to be hurt when trying to comfort her and she turns her back and says, "I want Daddy." But I wouldn't really have it any other way. I want our girls to have a man in their life they feel completely safe with and can lean on. Someone they hold up as a standard when it comes time to choose to marry and not settle for anything less that what they had growing up. A man who will sit patiently while his daughter tries to comb his hair and say, "Daddy, you don't have much hair." And then pretends to wash it, smooth it out and shave him. A man who will lay on the ground and play Star Wars figurines (although I don't think this is a taxing thing for Mike, I know he is more than happy to patronize them in this activity). A man who will lay down the law when needed, a man who knows when his children are lying and insist they tell him the truth and gets it. A man who loves his wife, and treats her with more respect than anyone else in his life, never complaining about all her idiosyncrasies. A man, even though deathly tired, will stay awake in bed listening to his wife's worries and concerns, and lie and say he is happy to hear about them. A man that makes them laugh, always. A man who will never let his family go hungry and will forgo little luxuries so that his children can have certain things. A man who relishes in pretending to be the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. A man who makes you feel like everything will be okay when he hugs you and holds you. A man who isn't perfect, but is the perfect husband and father. That is the kind of man I want our girls to look for when they are choosing a husband. A man just like their dad.

It is no secret that my childhood had some very unhappy times. And because of certain happenings, I often found it difficult to believe that my life could be happy, stable and secure. I learned to be an independent, hard working, don't rely on anyone kind of person. That was how I could protect myself. If I didn't rely on anyone, then they did not have the power to bring me any unhappiness. But then I met Mike. And I had to let go. And it was scary for me. However, I am grateful I did. Marrying him was the BEST decision I have ever made and will probably remain to be the best decision I have ever made. The nine years we have been married have been the happiest of my life and it is all because of him.

Happy Father's Day, my love.