What a special time to set aside a day to celebrate and honor our Dads together…dads in all the different ways of living that relationship.

Personally, I think about my Dad many times a day. His heart lives in mine. Some of the specific ways I hear him or feel him smile are when I work to be the person I want to be when circumstances are challenging; I can hear him talking to strangers that I’m interacting with (I can hear him demonstrating deep interest as he would say things like, “Is that right?”); I literally hear his chuckle in my ear and “I’m so proud of you” whenever I take on and finish some strange challenge or adventure (e.g. I just finished running my 61st day in a row, and raced one of those days in a sparkly dress – coming in 2nd in my age group). I can hear his stern encouragement regarding working hard and teaching children to do the same; I hear the same stern confidence and committment to respecting one’s parents and others and the need to nurture that. I am eager to open my house and my car and my (whatever)… to those who I have the privilege of helping… a deep–seeded foundation from growing up with Dad and Mom. I thoroughly enjoy my children like Dad thoroughlly enjoyed us… and, because of that, I have become fully aware that liking your children is different from and just as important as loving them. Really enjoying them is so much fun!! And, to close each night, when we go to bed and say prayers, Maya says, “And God, please take really good care of Opa… I miss him. And Oma.. She misses him too.” Just a few of the ways Dad continues to talk with me, teach me, love me and enjoy me.

Jim is an awesome Father too, and it is such a blessing to be his partner in the work he does with our three amazing kids. Jim’s relationships with each of the three is so treasured and important to him. He celebrates their strengths enthusiastically with them and with anyone else who asks. Each kid gets many hugs and I love you’s every single day. Today, he got up early to go to work (ICU attending this weekend) so he could cheer Madey and Maya on at their piano recital. After going for a bike ride with Dan and making us all a yummy dinner, he played board games with Madey and Maya (so I could run). Eager to engage any and all of his family in the more challenging conversations of life, we all benefit from his deep faith and thoughtful ways of navigating life. We are all so blessed by Daddy Jim.

As I think through ALL of the Dads in our family, I am reminded how blessed we ALL are as a family. So many amazingly loving Dads who give so much and care so deeply… who have and continue to shape our lives. Thank you and I love you.

I am continually reminded how very important it is for all of us to support and encourage, love and believe in the fathers around us.

God, thanks for loving us in and through Dads. Hope you all had a great Father’s Day!!

This is the present we gave Dadey Jim – a new phone case with pictures of his favorite little people: