i had a heart swell this year thinking about father's day, for the many father's i know and see, as well as, for the one i have and the one for my daughter. Sometimes father's get a bad rap and i want to throw something at half the commercials about them. Because in my heart, I am filled with gratitude with the amazing way parenting can be written in every home and enjoy watching it come to life as each family works out how they will bring safety, education, joy and love to their home.

the father i know makes every single little league game through college traveling games, in fact, coaches as many years as he can. the father i know picked me up from school when i had my first period and my mom was at work. the father i know knows no strangers and encourages us to see far and wide and be open-minded. the father i know is kind and fun. the father i know is on the ground with his granddaughter and repeats some of the "hilarious" jokes just as he did with me. the father i know offers every verse he can from the depths of his heart when i am troubled or sad. the father i know is available, teacher, and capable.

my daughter knows a dad who has never been left a list he didn't create for himself. (he does like to check things off). my daughter knows a dad who draws with her; who makes up wildly imaginative stories with her. my daughter knows a dad that makes her meals and packs her lunch. my daughter knows a dad who brushes and braids hair, picks out good outfits and teaches her to tie shoes. my daughter knows a dad that folds her clothes like he still works in Britches and creates all sorts of things out of his old legos with her. My daughter knows a dad who will rest and who loves to learn about God. My daughter knows a dad who puts distraction away to sit on the sofa and tell jokes so she can laugh and laugh.

this year we were blessed to have the Osters Sr. here for Father's Day weekend. When we were going around the table sharing what we each felt thankful for about our father's, it was a nice time to remember and give thanks. And i was thrown off in the best possible way when after i shared, "I am thankful that my dad delights in me." And Hannah, who had already answered about her dad, said, "Oh yeah, like my dad does." And I smiled/cried and said, "yeah, like your dad does". Praise God. Dad, dad, he is so rad.