A Special Weekend

Night has fallen.  Three little ones are sleeping peacefully in their beds.  I have stolen away to the front porch for a few moments to come to this space.   I sit in complete darkness except for the glow of the computer screen and the street light that illuminates the end of our cul-de-sac.  All around there are the blinking lights of lightening bugs and I make a mental note to make sure we keep the kids up late enough to capture the glowing bugs soon.  At the end of the driveway the yellow eyes of a raccoon stare and me and are freaking me out just a bit. 

I love when night falls at the end of the weekend and I look back with that undeniable feeling of contentment.  As I sit here and look back and think about the celebration of Father’s Day the only thing I can think is, I’m one of the lucky ones.  You see, I know that not everyone has a good Dad.  Not everyone had a good Dad.  And not everyone married a good Dad.  Tonight my heart is so thankful that not only do I have an excellent Dad, but I married one, too. 

(Sidenote: the raccoon has scurried away. . . I feel better now.)

I’ve heard spouses say that they don’t celebrate their spouse on Mother’s/Father’s day because you’re not my mother/father.  I think differently, though.  I enjoy celebrating the man whom my kids call Daddy and I want him to always be aware that I do not take him for granted. 

So to be sure that Chad didn’t feel unappreciated, we decided to begin our celebrations on Friday.  It took a lot of prep work, though, and Charlie and Chanelle labored for several hours to be ready for his arrival home from work.

Charlie discovered he could squirt himself while filling the balloons, making the process even longer.

Working tirelessly, hour after hour, they filled, tied, and gently placed balloon after balloon until they felt we had the perfect amount for his welcome home.

Throughout the day I heard when is Daddy going to be home no less than 27 times an hour.  They were so excited and when we got the text that read “Leaving” they prepared by hiding all 194 balloons throughout our landscaping.  They had scattered their toys throughout the garage so Chad would be forced to park outside and they could attack immediately.

Attack, they did. 

One after another balloons were tossed through the air and several hours of work was wiped away in a mere ten minutes. 

Soaking wet bodies tore throughout the front yard set to attack one another.  Sounds of glee and, yes, a few tears at balloons thrown too hard was the scene in our front yard.  So simple, so quick, and yet. . . so worth it.

Oh and Meadow?  Meadow could not have cared less.

(Our neighbors must think we are half crazy). 

Broken balloons littered our yard while sopping wet bodies ran inside to dry off.  We felt it was only fair that since Charlie, Chanelle and I put in all the work to prepare the balloons, that Chad and Meadow clean them up.

There you have it. . . my husband in slippers, black socks, and shorts carrying Meadow like she’s a suit case.  Oh my, you just can’t make this stuff up.  If our neighbors didn’t think we were crazy before, certainly with this scene they absolutely know we  Chad is.

As you can see, Chad is who Chad is.  He’s comfortable with himself and therefore it is impossible for anyone not to be comfortable around him.  This is one of the many reasons I am so thankful that he is Daddy to our kids.  I couldn’t ask for anyone more down to earth and real.  I know that Charlie, Chanelle and Meadow don’t get it now, but some day they will. . . someday they will understand what I gift they have in their Dad.

But how many Dad’s will actually ride their daughters (pink with training wheels) bike?

So often, when I get a chance to see them all from afar, I stand back and watch.  I was able to stand back and watch as we finished a walk Saturday evening.  I slowed my pace and I watched him be a dad.  I watched them look up to him.  When I slow down like this and allow myself to really, really see it–that is when I understand what a gift we’ve been given. 

Charlie, Chanelle and I have been talking for weeks about how we want to celebrate Father’s Day.  They could not wait to give him their gifts Sunday morning and their excited-shy smiles were contagious.

There it is again. . . the crinkle eye smile

And while gifts are fun and nice to receive, I believe few things are better than words.  This Father Day we all wanted Chad to know how much we appreciate him and more than anything. . .

How much we LOVE him.

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**And to my Dad. . . thank you for being the example of what a really good Dad is so I would know it when I saw it. 

****To my Father-in-Law. . . thank you for being an example to Chad. . . I know this legacy started with you. 

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And now there seem to be creatures stirring from every direction–I think it’s time to go in.

Happy Monday!