Adventures In Woods

Today is my father’s birthday, and I just wanted to take the opportunity to honor him.  Why wait for a funeral to let someone know how much they mean to you.

My dad is an amazing man of God and such a blessing to my whole family, our church, and our community.  He has faithfully loved my mom for over 31 years which has given my brother and sister and I such stability and an example to follow.  My dad is one of the greatest examples in the area of purity and integrity as well.  He and my mom have been teaching the premarital classes through our church and discipling young couples for probably a decade now.  And as a Christian counselor, he dedicates his time to helping families and individuals work through some really tough stuff with great patience, wisdom, and a passion to see them walk in true freedom and victory.  And lest you think he’s perfect from this description, he’s not.  But even when he has messed up, he’s been an example to us by genuinely apologizing to either my mom or one of us or whatever the situation called for, and that kind of humility is so rare in a man.  He can fix ANYTHING, has helped my drywall the inside of my house, taught me how to change the breakpads and oil on my car, taken me hunting and fishing, supported me in band and tennis in high school, and in so many other ways said with his actions, “I believe in you.  You can do anything, and I’ll love you just the same whether you succeed or not.”  As my earthly father, he has so consistantly demonstrated unconditional love to me, that it has been easy to receive love from my heavenly Father.  That’s the greatest legacy he’s left us - a genuine, deep relationship with and faith in Jesus Christ.

This is a fun picture of my parents with our 3 kids and our niece and nephew from a family photo shoot last November:

Nana & Umpah with their grandkids

It was hilarious watching the moms trying to get all their kids to smile at the same time:

My boys are really into playing super heroes right now.  Jess and I get asked multiple times per day which super hero we want to be from a list of choices including Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Robin Hood, Luke Skywalker, and other Jedi warriors and a few others - including Simba (Lion King) for Benjamin.  I let the boys get matching Ironman shoes yesterday with soles that light up, so guess who has been the favorite since then.  They needed new shoes, the price was right at PayLess, and they love them :)  They haven’t even seen those movies (besides a few previews and cartoon versions), but they just know somehow.  Ah, I remember those days.  But for me it was He-Man and the ThunderCats.

Well, there’s something in the heart of every boy that wants to be great and save the world.  There’s something in every man’s heart that seeks significance and to know that they have what it takes.  Thank you for passing true greatness on to us, Dad.  You’re my greatest hero, and I love you!