Father's Day 2013

As a mom of 6 children I have come to appreciate my dad more than ever. When I was a little girl, he was gone alot. His job took him to Japan, Malasia, Europe, and various cities in-country several days out of every month. As a result, I didn't have a very close relationship with him really until I got married...

I always had a healthy fear of  my dad growing up. His children always knew what he expected and we rarely pressed him. He was firm, but soft all at once. There is a measure of security that comes from knowing what's expected of you and I didn't like to disappoint my parents. I always hated the dreaded "report card day", because academics was never really my thing and I knew I was going to get "the talk" and that my parents were going to be disappointed in me. To this day, I strive to make my parents proud of me and I am thankful for their support even in those days of uncertainty:)

My dad is a music-loving man. On any given Saturday morning when I was growing up, you could find my dad in the wing-back chair listening to Wayne Watson, Phillips Craig & Dean, Michael W. Smith, or whatever latest song he'd heard at church that he'd fallen in love with... And my mom would get annoyed because he would replay it over and over and over... He had a love for all sorts of music... Eagles, Bread, Bee Gees, Alabama... I can't hear the song, "Goodbye Girl" without thinking of my dad and getting a little choked up, usually while I'm in the grocery store. Not joking, it happened just yesterday.

But his love for music has been pivotal my life. I'm not sure where I'd be today without the inspirational music that became the soundtrack of my life. It grew my faith as a child and a young woman & I know for sure that it had a huge impact on the man I chose to spend the rest of my life with. When I was in the 8th grade I went on a youth retreat where the guest speaker encouraged us to begin praying for our future spouses. I made a list of the things I wanted in a spouse and one of those items was a man who had a love for Christian music. Back when I met Matt, no one our age was listening to Wayne Watson. There was a song called, "Somewhere In The World" that I just loved. One day when  Matt and I first started hanging out as a couple he put on a CD and would you believe it was Wayne Watson??? Someone in college had given him the CD and it became one of his favorites. That was the day I knew I was going to marry Matt.

One of the sweetest memories I will always treasure of my dad is when he came EARLY in the morning all the way to the airport, by himself, to see Matt and I off on our honeymoon. I remember turning around and seeing him walking toward us with a big old smile on his face... It made me cry. I was so touched at the thoughtfulness that went into that decision.
The other memory I have carried for years is one from when I was just a very little girl... probably 4 or 5 years old. It was late in the evening. My mom was rocking my baby brother to sleep and my dad asked me to sit on his ankles in the family room as he did sit-ups on the floor. He had the "Bee Gees" record playing. When "How Deep Is Your Love" came on we laid down on the floor, side by side and listened to it... just me and my dad. I don't know why that had such a powerful impact in my life, but it did and I always think of my dad whenever I hear that song... usually while I'm in the grocery store:) My dad is one of the most thoughtful, sacrifical people I know. While Matt and I were in China, he and his wife took off an entire week of work (unpaid vacation) and flew down to stay with our kids. Words will never be enough to tell my dad how much I appreciate all he has done for me...

Dad,
Thank you for the support you give, the encouraging emails you send, the sacrificial things you do to show your love for me...
Thank you for giving me a love for great music and for passing on the sentimental gene:) I am sure I got my uncontrollable crying from you:)

This one's for you, Dad. If we'd have had dancing at my wedding I'm sure it would've been our song:)

And last, but certainly not least...

Happy Father's Day to my husband, Matt!!!

We had a great time making his gift this year. I found the idea on Pinterest and ran all over town yesterday looking for the perfect frame. I think he liked it:)

Wadaya think?

In case you're having a hard time seeing it, that's my kids, spelling out the word "father".

This is how we really look...

This is our "Facebook" look:)

Happy Father's Day Dad's!!!

Blessings,
Rebecca