Gator 9,490

As a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts also.” 2 Corinthians 6:13 NIV

Happy birthday sweet girl. I used the number of days since you were born just because it sounds longer than 26 years. It has gone too fast, so I wanted it to sound longer. I started writing years ago largely because I wanted to make sure that you knew how I felt about you and about life in general. Probably the worst decision I ever made was to take you to see my dad after his mind was gone. I will never forget that day and I want to make sure that if you and I ever have that interaction, you have no doubts about how I see you.

Maybe my second worse decision was that roller coaster at Worlds of Fun. I had never seen someone paralyzed with fear until then. Keeping in mind you were probably four years old, you probably should not have agreed to try it.

You came into the world talking and have not stopped. I love it. Early in your life I was still early in my life as a father. There were times that I sort of wanted the talking to decrease, I mean you use a lot of words. As I got more experience, I realized that all the words were gifts. You make me laugh more than anyone else. You have made me mad more often than anyone else. You have made me confused about which I should be more often than anyone else.

You have also made me proud as often as anyone else. You were “quirky” as a kid and at times may not have fit the mold of people your age. At times you were quite serious about navigating life. You worried about things. You asked questions about literally every detail if we were going somewhere you had never been. You may still carry more worry than I want you to, but the detail oriented part of you has turned you into someone who thinks about those details in every interaction you have, with anyone.

You are more kind than I even think of being. You still consider the details of the world but now you consider the details of the world around everyone you care about. I once called you “annoyingly kind”. It is kind of a funny term, but it is accurate. I admire the way you care for the people in your life.

You have taken care of me when I needed it. You have seen my lowest low and my highest of highs. I remember one time in particular, I was gutted, nothing left. You wrapped yourself around me and just hugged, the talker never said a word.

In the last few years, we have watched you become a teacher. We have watched you become a wife. We have watched you become a mom. You have no idea how good you are at any of the three.

At your wedding we danced to “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. “Oh, mirror in the sky, What is love? Can the child in my heart rise above? Can I sail through the changin’ ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life? Well, I’ve been afraid of changin’ ‘cause I’ve built my life around you”.

Aly, you are love. I have seen you rise above things that make some people quit. You have sailed through changing tides in your life and some of those have been tidal waves far too big for someone your age. You help me handle the seasons of my life and I look forward to the future largely because mine has been built around you.

You have always said you hoped your children would be brave, not afraid to try things. If Harlee is any indication so far, that is exactly what you taught her to be. You.

Happy birthday sweet girl,

Dad

How much time do you spend with your children? I don’t mean working on the to do list for the day. How much unscripted time with no agenda?

Even if you have to let the to do list sit, spend more time with your kids, life goes too fast. It is easy to miss.

Challenge: Parents, tell your kids how you feel. You may forget to someday.