#81

Father's Day

The day of the year many coffee mugs, t-shirts, gift cards and ties are purchased as we attempt to make our Dad's laugh but we don't tell them how we really feel because we don't know how most of the time. In reality - how we feel is something we can't give with words.

How we feel is frozen in all of the moments they were there for us. Frozen in time as memories we will never let go of. When we think of our Dad's and how we love them we see those memories in our minds and they are what best reminds us of how we feel about them. Memories of buying our first car - and needing help when it breaks down. When we scrape up our elbow or knee and they hold us and help us clean it up while we freak out about a little blood. Learning to ride a bike. Shoulder rides holding on to his hair. Prom - getting married.

No coffee mug, t-shirt, ties and sure as hell no gift card is going to relay those feelings so we just get something to make them laugh because we want to get as close to that I Love You feeling we get when we relive those memories in our minds. Seeing Dad smile and laugh. Seeing the joy when they look at you while they do, because the gift was from you.

Being a Dad for 10 years now - I get it. My true purpose as a Father is to be there for my kids. To support them when they try new things, rescue them when life happens, discipline them when they need it - even though they hate us for it in the moment and teach them about family. This is our way of giving to our kids and loving them.

Thank you for giving so much to me Dad - and for continuing to give even more. I love you.

#80

The Wife is amazing.

She's been going to school for 4-5 years now, starting in CA and continuing as the main reason we moved to Oregon. The college has sent her the cap she would be given if COVID had not been a thing. It's over our bed ready for the day she puts it on when this school quarter is over. To say she is ready to be done with this degree is an understatement, yet she stuck through it.

She continued on, while being an official day care provider in CA, a single parent in OR (in terms of presence) for over a year while I was stuck in CA only able to visit for a week every month (and sometimes I had to miss a month due to finances). She still plans vacations and keeps our kids involved with Girl Scouts, Soccer and other items. Her course work for the degree has included multiple field outings, sometimes intentionally over a day and into weeks while I'm here at home in OR being the single parent. She has been the Mom of sorts for all of the students in those groups when she attends those outings and helps other students in the class with homework items while figuring them out herself as well.

I'm simply very proud of who she is and all that she does as a person and a Mom and am spoiled by what she does as a Wife. Make sure to squeeze your partner and tell them you love them and do those small things that show it because they deserve it.

#79

I know it's been a while for sure - but here is a new one.

Trevor: "Dad, you should work twice as much as you do a day so we can buy that house." (talking about a 3.85M home in Vermont)

Gabrielle: "What?! That just equals more brain damage!"

Me: "So my job gives me brain damage?"

Gabrielle: "Yes!" / Trevor: "No!"

Alex: (from another room) Brain damage 🎶

These amazing kids continue to befuddle their Father intentionally and I could not be luckier to have them. My life could have gone a very different route had I not found a good Woman.