ME with MY KID'S DAD!!
I married this guy in 1995. He is my lover and best friend. He is my shelter and rock. He is the one who will always make my heart sing. He is an incredible father to our three kids.
Today this post is dedicated to Lance. I think the world (our children especially) needs to know that there are still fathers out there who honor their wedding vows, put their families first, care for the needs of others, and are willing to submit to their Heavenly Father's authority and correction the best that they can.
A quick apology to Lance might be in order since he isn't crazy about being the center of attention when it comes to personal things. He DOES, however, enjoy drawing a great deal of attention to the crazy, outrageously creative and large-scale ideas he comes up with. I have to say, Lance is one of the most creative people I have ever met. He is full of ideas...most of us can't keep up. And though his plans usually entail a teeny, tiny bit of work on my part, I admit that this is still one of my favorite things about him.
LANCE SPECIALIZES IN UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS and my kids LOVE it. This dad ROCKS!! See for yourself.
sculpting 6'5" tall snow men with the kids
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| setting up for "dinner on ice" with friends, |
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| crafting a halloween costume, |
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building an enormous back yard ice rink
or an ice bar for a New Year's Eve party... |
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maybe he's making a giant football logo and
stapling it to our roof, |
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| constructing a fort that fills a room, |
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| cutting blocks for another igloo (we found our 2 grown neighbors huddled inside the last one, watching a movie with our kids) |
or even designing a life sized movie screen in the yard...
LANCE IS GOING TO PULL IT OFF WITH STYLE.
But Lance doesn't only concern himself with the huge, crazy things. He is also a man that pours a great deal of energy into the small things of life that matter most.
He models care, compassion and respect to his children in the way he treats others. He has the most generous heart and and my kids catch glimpses of it all the time. I say glimpses, not because the occasions are rare, but because Lance finds ways to constantly give and give that no one else ever sees. What a gift for my children in a world that values appearance and public applause, maybe even more than having a character of substance and integrity.
Lance is fun...and he is funny!!
He is unique....
He knows how to play...
He knows how to make work like play
And he loves to build things......
Last summer Lance built a pizza over in our back yard so that we could "have the whole neighbourhood over for pizza parties."
It was a stinking huge project and I was about ready to curse it by the time we were almost finished. The reason I tell this story is because it is SO Lance. Big idea, huge creativity and hard work, and it shows the person he is....especially the small detail he incorporated on the back wall of the oven.
It's just like Lance to make a place to honor God in what he does. I know he would argue that he doesn't do this very well...but I live with the guy and I see it all the time. Yet another quality about Lance that makes him so amazing.
And finally, Lance really knows how to love (not just his cars -- which I really should take more pictures of.) I mean LOVE -- fierce, dedicated, protect his family at any cost --- kind of love!!
And this Father's Day, Lance, we want you to know that we see all the ways you care for, provide, and gives of yourself for us. We know that you give 100% and sometimes feels like you have nothing left to give. We understand that sometimes you feel worn out and run down. It's okay. We want to say THANK YOU ----FOR EVERYTHING! We know that you are not perfect and we don't expect you to be because you always accept and forgive us our imperfections. In fact, we think you are amazing exactly the way you are BECAUSE YOU'RE THE BEST.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY -- INCREDIBLE YOU!!
Love,
Melody and your Kids.
