Tribute to a special man

This dance was the only time on my wedding day that I cried.

Even as a married woman, my Dad is one of my favorite people to talk to and sit down over a cup of coffee with. The fact that he still calls me every so often just to see how I am and that he desires to support, encourage, and spend time with my husband just reminds me of how much God has blessed me with my Dad.

Growing up, I always knew I was a princess, someone of value, simply because he said so. The words "You are beautiful, Rachel" from him could overcome an entire culture that told me otherwise.

My wedding day wasn't the first time he had danced me around a room or dressed up for me. It is because of his example that I knew from a young age that God would always love and always forgive me, no matter how much I had messed up.



Daddies need their little girls to help keep them gentle, understanding, sensitive, and loving.  Little girls need their Daddies to help keep them secure, trusting, virtuous, and loving.

When a Dad is loved by his daughter he knows there is always someone who believes in him and he can face whatever life brings.

When a daughter is loved by her Dad she knows there is always someone cheering her on and she can dream the impossible dreams.

God has designed relationships so beautifully when people are willing to follow His guiding.

I pray there will be more men, more daddies, who are willing to look foolish just so their little girls will laugh.  More daddies that are willing to sit up late watching a favorite movie or crying for and with their teenaged daughters about struggles they are facing for what seems the thousandth time in one week.

Daddies who will raise their girls to know how valued they are to him, to God, so that they will never feel the need to find their worth in the arms of another. Daddies who will love their daughters even after they give them away as blushing brides.

Daddies who will phone, visit, pray, and encourage their sons and sons-in-law to be those future daddies.

Today is my Daddy's birthday.  I was able to spend a lot of time this last weekend ministering with him at a teen winter retreat.  What an amazing three days... and, yes, we did get to spend time talking over coffee like I so love doing!  Tonight Andrew and I will be driving up to my family's house to celebrate another year in my Dad's life.  I am so grateful for the man God chose to raise me.  I am blessed beyond imagining.

I love you, Dad.  Thank you and happy birthday!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!  I will hopefully be posting pictures from my weekend soon!

God bless!