What Is A Dad?

"A Dad is a person

Who is loving and kind,

And often he knows

What you have on your mind.

He's someone who listens,

Suggests, and defends.

A dad can be one

Of your very best friends!

He's proud of your triumphs,

But when things go wrong,

A dad can be patient

And helpful and strong.

In all that you do,

A dad's love plays a part.

There's always a place for him

Deep in your heart.

And each year that passes

You're even more glad,

More grateful and proud

Just to call him your dad!

Thank you, Dad...

For listening and caring,

For giving and sharing,

But, especially, for just being you!"

Happy Father's Day to our wonderful dads!

And I do mean WONDERFUL! We have some truly incredible Dad's and Grandpa's in our lives and are so blessed for the closeness that we all share. Both Sam and I have incredible Dads who have become even more incredible Grandpas to our boys. It's truly a precious thing to watch your own dad become completely wrapped around the fingers of someone so small. They would do anything for their grandchildren and Jaden and Elijah are so blessed to be so loved!

They were also blessed to have know their Great-Grandpa (my Grandpa); to experience his love, laughter, and silliness; and to have shared many wonderful memories with him before he passed away in March. In my eyes, he was a perfect picture of love, family, and values and I look forward to sharing all of those with my boys.

And Jaden and Elijah are truly blessed to be celebrating this Father's Day with a Dad who is truly one-of-a-kind! Sam loves and cherishes his role as "daddy" and he shows that each and ever day. He is so in love with these two little guys and would do anything to make them happy, hear them giggle, and see them smile. And they love him just as much! It brings me so much joy to see the relationship the boys' have with their daddy, because too often today it seems like the ever-important dads are absent in the lives of their children; and even if they are physically "there," their hearts are often missing from the job. And heart is a requirement! And so is tickling; playing every kind of ball that there is; being totally hands-on; watching Saturday morning cartoons; teaching how to use a hammer; letting the boys play with a baby doll if they want to; reading stories; riding in daddy's truck; hunting for bugs; not minding messes, but teaching how to clean them up; setting a shining example; teaching respect, patience, and love; loving no matter what; and being a superhero, to name a few! Jaden and Elijah are so lucky, their daddy has all of the qualifications, and many, many more! Happy Father's Day!

Here's some of my favorite father-son pictures from the past year...