I'm a blessed girl

Happy Father's Day! We had an enjoyable one.

First, I need to give a shout-out to my dad since we weren't able to spend today with him (the shot to the left is the night D & I got engaged...he asked me in a super creative way right smack dab in front of my family. No one knew he was going to do it except Dad. It was priceless). It's hard to know where to begin when talking about my dad since there are so many things I admire/respect/love about him. What I most remember about my childhood was that he was there all of the time. He worked 45 minutes from our house, but I don't ever remember an occasion when he wasn't actively involved...he never put work above his family although at his job he was always a very hard worker with a stellar work ethic. He coached (or assistant coached?) our little league softball team, the Sugarbabies, and was always there for any sport or hobby that we decided to involve ourselves. When we were little, my mom would bathe us and my dad always blow-dried our hair...I love that memory. When we lived in Michigan and had a ping pong table in the basement he would play ping pong with us tirelessly. Living in Michigan was tough at times because my dad got laid off at work. He went to the unemployment office every single day as if it was his full time job and at night he worked at a Meijer store - stocking shelves. I think about that often because that, to me, was the ultimate in sacrifice for his family. It was important to him that my mom stay home with us so he did what he felt he had to do to provide for his family - no job was "below" him. As a Christian, my dad is an amazing example of a spiritual leader of his family and now that he's an elder he's an excellent leader at church, too. I firmly believe that my sisters and I married such amazing Christian men because of the example my dad set for us when we were growing up. I can't remember my dad ever losing his temper with us when we were still at home. When I was a teenager filled with the normal amount of teen angst, I always felt like I could talk to my dad and he wouldn't get mad at me for expressing how I felt about things (although he had his way of gently reminding me why things were the way they were). He let me talk, and I'll never forget that. I love you, Dad...I feel like I didn't say enough, but what you've done to show us you love us hasn't been overlooked. For my wedding, since I was the last of his daughters to get married, he worked on this video to show at the reception. I wasn't allowed to see it before the wedding day, but I remember he would work on it in his office and come out of the room wiping his eyes...my dad who never cries. I had a great childhood with parents who loved each other deeply (and still do) and put God first...what a difference that makes!

Here's the video Dad made. Turn up your sound and grab a tissue or 9:



Here's the link in case the video doesn't work for you. I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.

We spent Father's Day with D's parents, sister and brother-in-law. Jake grilled hamburgers and we had potato salad (that D's mom made - mmmm), potato chips, and watermelon. Really yummy meal. I decided to try a dessert I saw recently for Father's Day. They were a big hit! My father-in-law really enjoyed them so I consider them a success! Here are photos of the "hamburgers" I made. It's pretty much a cupcake with brownie and frosting inside. The "fries" are sugar cookies with sugar sprinkled on them:

I wish D wrote a blog so he could talk about his childhood with his dad. I mean, I know what an amazing man his dad is but it would be fun to hear some stories of D growing up. Anyway, I really do feel fortunate for marrying in to the family I did. D's dad gave such a moving speech at our wedding reception - I'll never forget it! Love you, Papa B! Happy Father's Day!

Just to say - I do consider this D's first Father's Day but only slightly. He deserves recognition for putting up with/bending over backwards for me as I carry our little girl. He's a great dad already because he's taking such great care of our little girl's mom, thus taking care of our little girl. I can't tell you how excited I am to see D with our little girl...I think the second he sees her he'll be a goner. That's if he's not passed out on the floor from the whole labor/delivery experience (I'm kidding - kind of. He doesn't like to see people in pain and isn't a fan of blood). Love you, D.

A couple of sweet girls and their husbands got into town on Saturday morning. They arrived shortly after D left to attend a wedding in Portland. I had so much fun just sitting and chatting with Jenn & Sarah...it made me wish I had girls around my age who lived close that I could just sit around and chat with! They really were a delight to have around. Sarah took some shots of me in all my bellied glory on Saturday afternoon in our backyard and I think they turned out well...she does such an amazing job. I do not feel pretty at all right now (what is with my nose?!) but she took pictures of me that I actually like. That's a feat! Sarah - you rock. And Jenn, thanks for the comedic relief :) Here's a sampling of the photos Sarah took:

Tomorrow I start on thank you notes for baby gifts. I figure if I start tomorrow I can be done by mid-September. :)

Have a happy Monday. Go hug your dad.