“The heart of man is very much like the sea,
it has its storms, it has its tides
and in its depths it has its pearls too”
– Vincent van Gogh
I’ve never much loved pearls, but I wholly get the significance and depth of their meaning. And thus you are mine. You and E.
It’s not lost on me how much you have earned the immensely important title of “Best Dad Ever.” But it’s true. Though I could easily start listing all the ways in which you’ve both earned and proved this, you have finally fit the mold of the card aisle, which in and of itself is an achievement for you–even though it’s hilariously “common.” Just this month, Eli and I finally understood why so often Father’s Day cards have grills on them…Ha! I mean, I get it when I think of so many Fathers and Father-figures I know, but it never really fit /you/. Until now. For the last two months, you have grilled anything and everything that’ll fit onto your Blackstone and you have loved every second. Making the whole of our acreage smell like the best meal in town, even the deer and fox come out to watch you. It wasn’t until lockdown (how crazy life can be sometimes!) that you decided you wanted to also hold the title of chef in our family and neither E or I have complaints. You are genuinely so good at cooking and creating. But it’s not all that surprising. You are good at everything. And your profound knowledge of all.things is something I’ve marveled at since I met you. And still your wisdom is growing; and still I marvel.
See what I see…
The way in which I see Eli maturing and who he’s becoming, is nothing less than a result of your mad Dad skills. It’s the best feeling ever watching you raise our boy into a God-fearing Man, and also seeing how gentle, thoughtful, and truly KIND he is. I know that when he’s grown he’ll have a little bit of both of us in him…but I sure am glad the other half of my contributions is you. Because, well, you’re also FUN. And Funny. And Fantastically crazy in the best way.
I’m immensely blessed to have lived a life with you in it. One in which you and I were miraculously able to create a mini us: An Eli. He is the gem of children and it’s why our hearts don’t close. He’s ripped us open in the best way possible.
I’m grateful that I get to bare witness to your being a Dad; to watching you grow and learn, to seeing you both discipline and to disciple, to lead and guide, to protect and comfort, and to love and cherish. You are all that is easy to write about, but hard to find in this world. And I couldn’t love or respect you more.
I’d not want a life here on Earth where you weren’t in it. And every day with you is a gift. Thank you for loving me and E and thank you for being such a great (and utterly perfect) Dad to our one and only, even as we wait on the others. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Happy Father’s Day, love. xx
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