"daddy is cool, and i'm a princess."

when i first met nick, the first thing i noticed about him was his smile.  i had been told a looooong list of several great things about him (and that he was my future husband) by our mutual friends who had plotted to set us up, but the first thing that struck me about him was his smile.  i can still picture him, grinning from ear to ear that first time we met.

as we got to know each other, i was continually impressed by who he was.  his heart, his healthy view of himself and what he wanted in a relationship, and above all else, how he made it his mantra to love jesus, and love others.

over time, god revealed to me that not only was this man amazing husband material, but that he would be a fantastic father to our future children.  i watched him with his nephew, how he played with him and lavished him with attention.  i watched him with the youth at our church, how he desired to leave a lasting impact on their lives.  i watched him give up a summer to work with underprivileged youth in an impoverished town in illinois.  and all the while i watched, i knew god was telling me that this was one great man.

i still pinch myself that he asked me to be his wife.  and baby mama.  and i'm so glad i said yes.

father's day is a bittersweet day for me since i lost my dad almost two years ago.  several times throughout the day i feel as though someone is punching me in the gut.  being thirty two and having already lost my dad is a lonely club to be in.  especially on father's day.  but i really want to celebrate the fact that i had my dad for as long as i did--or even at all.  i'm just so thankful for the gift that he was to me and the lasting impact he has made on my life.  nothing--not even death--can take that away.  aaaaand, i really want to celebrate the father of my girls, who, i watch every day and am transported back to the days of my childhood, and memories i have of my sister and i with our dad.  as i watch nick with bella and emmy, i am forever thankful that they get the same gift i had of having the most amazing dad.  a dad who builds into them, who anchors their precious hearts and secures their blossoming identities; who tells them that their beautiful, loved and valued.  i can't think of a better gift.

nick, thank you for loving our girls the way you do.  thank you for playing with them, thank you for looking into their eyes and speaking to their souls, thank you for kissing them when their sad, snuggling with them and being patient and tender.  thank you for praying over them, and teaching them god's word.  thank you for being the man that they will want to marry some day and have as a daddy for their little ones.  thank you for being their protector, their prince, their hero.  you are exceedingly and abundantly more than they could ever want in a father.  and someday, in the not so distant future, they will fully appreciate and realize what a gift you are to them, and just how blessed they are that you are their dad. 

trust me, i know.

our father's day this year was special.  nick told me repeatedly what a great weekend he had, which made my heart so happy.  i love to celebrate him.  father's day for nick started a bit early when a coaching buddy of his called on saturday to have us over for a cookout with his family that evening.  we loaded up the girls and headed over.  bella ran barefoot and played with their little girls until the daylight turned to dark and fireflies flickered in the evening sky.  we feasted on lobster and steak and made smores around the fire.  the girls fell asleep on the car ride home.  it was lovely.  sunday morning we let nick sleep and woke him up with a couple gifts.  a "my daddy's favorites" sign bella and i made him (i interviewed her and asked her questions about nick's favorite things... so cute to see what she came up with!) and a dart board he's been wanting for his man cave.  soon after breakfast he got ready and met some of his buddies out on the golf course.  they originally planned on only playing nine holes, but all talked each other in to playing a full eighteen :)  when he came home we had my mom, aunt and uncle and some friends over for a cookout.  we had steak again (nick was in heaven!) and i made his favorite dessert: tollhouse pie.  although there were moments of sadness i really felt as though the weekend was what i strived for it to be.  it was a well celebrated weekend, indeed.

 we love you so much nick!  as bella says "daddy is cool and i'm a princess" :)  thanks for being so awesome and for taking such good care of your girls.  we are so thankful for you!!!