Dads.

I mean, they really don’t get enough credit.

I know that now, more than ever, after watching my high school sweetheart and husband for 5 years, become the most (and I mean T H E most) amazing daddy ever. The way he’s stood by, and supported me after our insane birth story. The way he’s changed just as many diapers as me, gotten up with our little girl, slept next to me on the couch the first 6 weeks when I could’t climb into bed made for Goliath, after my c-section to bring that little girl into the world.

He’s been there- through sleepless nights, spit up wars, bath times, story times, future time-out times, potty training times, and someday….walking down the aisle, times.

Dads.

In years past, Father’s day came with maybe if I’d admit it, a hinge of brokeness, because of year’s I’d lost with my dad.

Maybe some tears, maybe some anger, and just the right amount of happy dipped in remembering my dad. Last year, these words touched a few on my blog that read “What this girl who lost her dad, wants you to know this Father’s Day.” Reading those words again this week,, still ring even more true today, than when I wrote them last year.

Find Hope.

Cherish memories.

Make time.

This father’s day- don’t take for granted what you have, or live in the past of what you could have had.

Pursue grace, and find hope.

I’ve spent hours as words flood my mind over stories that tell who my dad was. The healing, the struggle, the freedom, and the forgiveness.

But this Father’s Day- is about CELEBRATING.

Celebrating, DADS.

Celebrating a boy who’s smile,  crooked pinkies, and just maybe the way he shot a hoop I fell for 15 years ago become a daddy.  A daddy to the most precious little heartbeat that there ever was. Discovering everyday who we are together, and  as parents, and watching the role “daddy” so easily bestow him. It has truly been one of the most, if not the M O S T, healing of all journey’s I’ve been on.  His love for her, the way he makes her giggle, the way he changes a diaper, or gets sweet potatoes on the celling, (heck, maybe on our neighbors celling) when he feeds her, the sacrifie’s he’s made for us, the hours he’s put in to provide, or left work, though he had hours more to go, just to come home, and kiss her tiny toes. The way he loves her mommy, and still makes time for little surprises for her.

The way he Daddies our little babe, and loves me… loves us. That’s what we celebrate.

And to all the dads out there- maybe you’ve been a dad less than a week, maybe your babies are grown and out of your home. Maybe you are in the process of becoming a daddy, or praying for you and your spouse to walk into the journey of parenthood together this year. Maybe this was the year you “gave your little girl away”, or taught your son to swing a bat or shoot a hoop for the first time.

Wherever you are, whatever season you are in, we celebrate you.

We honor you.

We LOVE, appreciate, and look up to you.

Dads, never ever take for granted the impact you make on those little heartbeats that you call yours.

and those who are watching from afar.

You make a difference in their world.

Pray for them, have patience with them.

Give yourself grace, knowing that we all loose it, and have times we need a time out.

I pray you always be a safe place for them, always fight for them.

May you be a place of comfort & rest,

A place of playfulness, and strength…

and  may you always wear a piece of home, by the smell of fresh cut grass on your sleeves as you walk in from a day in the yard, and squeeze those babes, ever so tightly. And never let go, no matter what age, or stage.