The Love of a Father

I can't watch my man with our girls, and not be overcome with gratefulness to God for this man who is the father of our precious girls.

After a long day at work, he never comes home to sit down.

He loves, and loves, and loves.

And our girls eat it up as they adore their Daddy.

I joke him all the time that this is all his fault, because if he wasn't such an amazing father I wouldn't feel the need to share this amazing gift with more babes who don't have a father.

Thanks Daddy for the way you love our house.
For the way you have taken care of us all while we have been sick the last twelve days.
For the way you can sit and just be, without words, with our children.
For driving eight hours yesterday to spend three with our big girl when she needed you.
For loving the Lord more than you love us because He is your source to serve us.
You are amazing and we are blessed to call you ours.

Today

At the park today, all the emotion of my being gone for the last seventeen days, and finally returning home hit my nonverbal treasure.  A blister set her off in deep sobbing tears, and I took her in my arms to rock her against my chest right there on the park bench.  The loss of a momma is very real for her, and when I am I not here it hurts her deep.  When I returned to her yesterday, she came running down the stairs smiling so big signing "momma, momma home"!  It burst my heart wide open.  Still today when I was comforting her, the sadness she felt in my absence came back, and sitting there sobbing those big sobs was her way of telling me how much it hurt her heart to be without me.  I held her a long time there on the bench singing to her, and saying I was so sorry I had to leave for so long.  I was reassuring her that I loved her, and missed her every bit as much as she did me.  Then, I turned to look over my shoulder to check on my man who was playing with our other two girls as I was giving Jillian some one on one time.  As I turned, I saw my man walking toward me with our newest treasure's crooked little hand in his.  Once again, JOY indescribable flooded my heart.  For two years, our Molly Kate hasn't known the hand of a father, but in an instant my man took that role.  I have watched him all day sitting with her, holding her, and playing.  I have heard him saying beautiful, you are safe, daddy loves you, and daddy's got you again and again.  I have seen this man, whom I love more than any other earthly being, take this stranger on as his own and my heart expands a thousand fold!  How I am blessed that he is willing to walk alongside me and support me in this crazy.  I never dreamed this life for us and, while it is not at all what I wanted or dreamed, it is so much better.  Crazy blessed to walk this road with such an incredible father to my children by my side.  I can't imagine my life without him, and when I said I would go back to China tomorrow..he didn't say no.

Celebrating My Man

Just over six years ago driving in the car to a concert just the two of us, my guy said that he felt like God was calling him into full time ministry. We were both teachers, had it good, were comfortable, and served the Lord as volunteers in youth ministry. I was shocked and resistant for awhile. (I hate to admit this, but alas my poor guy is usually met with skepticism from me when he leads us in the Lord.) Then just about four years ago after two years of searching and waiting on God-He led us to take this ministry position: full time. We sold our house. DH left his cushy job and took a $20,000 pay cut. I never imagined I would be a pastor's wife and there I was-exactly that.

Honestly, I never dreamed I would have such a Godly husband either. Never knew to hope for it. Given my background, I never knew this could be. What a blessing to have this man as mine. I am so blessed by him for a million reasons.

But today...He is now officially a seminary grad! He got his diploma in the mail from Liberty University's Seminary where he has been taking classes for the last three years. Way to go baby! He is just an amazing man of the Lord who leads our family with grace and serves us endlessly. Can't even describe what it is like to be loved the way Christ loved the church by my dear husband. So, here he is holding his diploma which is large and going to cost a mint to frame.



Oh Well, an important enough piece of paper to frame regardless. Just going to wait until Hobby Lobby has custom frames on sale..What an adventure this last 15 years have been. Honestly, I sit on the edge of my seat in anticipation at what is to come next as my man leads us as the Lord directs Him. It is certainly never dull here as we look to Christ to guide us. Who knows where He will take us next?