When...

WHEN

DID

MY BABY

BOY

BECOME

A

TODDLER??

I love my dad because...

Father's Day Fun fact: Many congressional resolutions proclaiming a national Father’s Day in the United States were introduced through the years. President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day with a presidential proclamation in 1966, but the holiday was not really made permanent until 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed a presidential resolution that made the third Sunday in June officially Father’s Day in the United States.

As I think about Father's day tomorrow, it has so many dimensions. I think about Chris and the dad he is to our children. I reflect on my dad; who he is to me and who he is as Poppy to our children and I think about our Heavenly Father, and all the riches that come from Him. It is overwhelming and brings tears to think about the love, compassion, and blessing that comes from each of these Father's.

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

There is almost nothing better than watching Chris with the kids. He would lay down his life for them. He is a Godly example to them and teaches them the things of the Lord. He cherishes the time that he can snuggle in their beds with them, praying over them before bed.

He is not too much of a man to sit at a kid-sized picnic table adorned with flowers and pink dishes to have a tea party with his girls.

He even drinks out of the tiny pink tea cups with them.

He takes twice as long to mow the lawn so the girls can walk next to him and mow with their lawn mowers.

He will brave the cold to go out and roll in the snow with them, or pull them up a sledding hill, time and time again for 10 seconds of fun and huge smiles. He will get up early on a Saturday morning to play in their room with them while mommy sleeps. His face lights up when they come running down the hall to crawl into to bed for a morning snuggle. They come running in asking, "daddy do you have a perfect spot for me?" (that's the spot snuggled right next to daddy under the blankets).

It makes a long day at work worth it, when he sees the girl's smiling faces waiting on the porch when he pulls into the driveway.

He loves that Parker has become such a daddy's boy and leaps out of my arms when Chris walks in the room. Parker squeals with delight when he hears Chris walk in the back door, after work.

Earlier today I asked the girls why they loved their dad, these were their responses...

"He does the best things for me and he loves me and he gives me best hugs and makes the best tents and I love him. That's why I love him"
~Melia

"I love daddy when I go with him."
~Eva

I love you Chris and could not ask for a better dad for our children. I count it a privilege to train them up with you.

When we have nothing else, we have our relationships. This has been pressed upon my heart with extra force this week. One week ago, we stood next to our Pastor and his family in front of a pile of rubble that they used to call home. In just minutes their house burned to the ground and they lost EVERYTHING. Everything but each other. I have never seen devastation like this. Yet, in the midst of the devastation, they Praised the Lord, to have relationships still. Is their anything more important? It has changed me. Out of the ashes, will come beauty and new life. As they begin to put their lives back together, a beautiful life will emerge.

I am so thankful for each and everyday that I wake up with air in my lungs. I am so thankful to watch Chris father our children. I am so thankful that I serve an amazing God, that all good things come from. I am so thankful to have a dad that would drop anything to serve his kids. His patience and love has made me who I am today.

I love you Chris...I love you Dad...and I love our Heavenly Father. Happy Father's day!!!

Parker Turns 1

Before we begin the birthday post, here are shots of the birthday boys beautiful sisters...

It was a gorgeous day for a backyard barbecue, cake, ice cream, swimming, laughing, and playing. It was filled with family and friends.

An awesome cloth "Happy Birthday Parker" banner made by Auntie B. It stretched around the kitchen the week before his birthday and along the deck on the day of the party.

A cake waiting for our sweet boy and owl cupcakes to be eaten by the guests.

Opening presents with daddy was first on the agenda

The wardrobe for the day

and a crown fit for a prince

Best Buds waiting for the festivities to begin

WARNING: Cake Demolition in progress

We ended the afternoon with some pool time...

Check out the nose scrunch on these boys...soooo cute.

A letter to our sweet boy coming soon, but for now I leave you with one final picture...

Dylan

You may have noticed this button on my side bar....(I just changed the pic).



As many of you know, I am a teacher for children birth to three with special needs. Dylan is a little boy in my class this year. In his three little years of life, he has faced much adversity. Just three days after coming into this world, he had open heart surgery to fix a congenital heart defect he was born with. He has had two more surgeries since then (June 08 and Feb 10). In 08 a pacemaker was put in to control one side of his heart. In Feb, the pacemaker was modified to control both sides of the heart. After two months his heart was failing again, and in end of April he was put in hospital again. Doctors are now saying that a heart transplant is his only option. He spent the first weeks in the hospital in the PICU on a ventilator. I am very happy to report that he is now on a general floor and doing well. He is on very high doses of medication to control his heart, while he waits, as his mother says, "for his second chance at life." The local paper in Oxford did an article on Dylan. You can read it by clicking the link below.

http://www.oxfordleader.com/Articles-i-2010-05-26-236012.113121-sub_Oxford_boy_awaits_heart_transplant.html#123s

After some time searching the Internet, I was able to create a button and code with his picture. If you feel inclined, you can grab this button to add to your blog. If not, can I ask that you please pray for this little boy and his family. This is a very trying time for them. Dylan lives with his mom, dad, and twin brother. He is such a precious little boy.