My Dad.

PaPa Tom.

Dad.

My Dad.

This man is the eptimone of a Godly father.

My Dad is amazing.

Simple as that.

I am 28 years old and he still makes sure to see me on my actual birthday, and always gets me a gift. My birthday is December 20th, which means we will see each other just 5 days later. He still makes it a big deal to see me on my birthday. You should hear him tell my birth story, it is the sweetest.  Wedding anniversary? Same thing. Kids’ birthdays? Same.

I remember him driving over an hour to bring me my favorite bracelet before a college tennis match, because it just felt weird not having it on.

He treats my husband as his son and my sister-in-law as his daughter.

He treats all of my littles the same, which is a huge deal to me.

He is God-fearing and God-loving.

But it was not always like this.

I remember days and nights and weeks and months and years that were not like this.

I have never doubted my Dad’s love for me and my brother but he was not always the person he is today.

I remember my Dad working so much that all he wanted to do was sleep and he always seemed a bit grouchy. He had good intentions but poor execution.

From my point of view, it was probably from an unhealthy marriage and feeling the burden of being the main provider for our family. Back then  I didn’t even realize he was thaaaat grouchy, because my mom took the lead on “how-not-to-parent.”

Divorce.

It sucks, but it helped. It helped so so so much.

My Dad apologized to me and my brother for the years of bowing down to my mom and just allowing the crazy to happen. He apologized for not being around more and for working too much. He apologized. He apologized.

And now… I get to watch a 57 year old man love on my many babies. I get to see him find new purpose in church. I get to watch as he treats my sister-in-law just like he treats me, his little girl. I get to witness a man living his fullest God-given life. I know no better man on Earth than my dad.

Happy Father’s Day.