Stop & Smell the Roses: June 2019

Since it's Father's Day I just wanted to take a moment to honor the best dad I know.

Austin, I have never seen a man father the way you do. You are all in all the time. Your patience and dedication inspires me every day. You are a man of integrity and it shows in how you live your life. Nothing about you is for show.
Your goodness, kindness, and generosity are genuine. Its one of the things I love most about you.

I love that you make spending quality time with our boys a priority. You take the time to explain and teach things to them. You are so intentional and it shows. I love that our boys get to see you use your talents to serve and love God. I love that you pray REAL prayers with them. I love that you bring bible stories to life for them. I know you think it's not that big of a deal the things you do because in your mind thats just what a dad should do. Today I just want to remind you that it is absolutely a big deal.

You are raising future men of God and this world needs more men like you in it. I can't wait to see the men our boys become. I think you should know that I believe they will aspire to be the kind of man you are. As a father is there really any higher honor than knowing your boy's dream is to grow up to be just like you? I can tell you with certainty that you are Landon's favorite person in this world.
Yes, it pains me to admit that but for now I've still got Logan!

You are this family's anchor and you are absolutely irreplaceable. Because I am a weird and morbid person we have talked about death way too much but seriously...you can't die first.

You are the heartbeat and rhythm of our family. Because you love music so much I was thinking about the parts of a song and how that if our life was a song you are the best parts.
Give me a mic and I MIGHT be able to do some backup and harmonize with you..
You could maybe throw me a tambourine if you're feeling lucky...But you...

You are the chorus, you're what the listener is waiting for.
The best and most memorable part of the song...the hook.

As if being the chorus wasn't enough you are also the bridge. You break up the repetitiveness and add an element of surprise. You go rouge and mix up the chords, rhythm, and melody...
you make the song interesting.

And when things start to get crazy you are the break the song needs. You give space and time for the music to breathe. If the atmosphere is right you might build the music up for a complete shift in where the song is going. Sometimes you might even go into a new song..seamlessly because you are that good.

I guess what I am trying to say is you are the melody to our song...

mel·o·dy

/ˈmelədē/

Learn to pronounce

noun

- a sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying.
- musically satisfying sequences of notes collectively.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know you are so loved, appreciated, and admired today and everyday. Today was just a good excuse to remind you and myself how truly blessed we are to have you.
Here are some pictures of you and the boys that I adore!

Here you are just being you with our boys. Laughing, and having adventures together.
I have a feeling that it's in stolen moments like these and just watching you live your life where our boys will learn to live theirs.

"I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom." -Umberto Eco