Fathers Day

It is late, 11:53pm. In a few minutes it will be Father’s day 2014. I have had a rough night with the kids, leaving me up late thumbing through social media. It is currently flooded with well wishes to fathers. I see women who are adoring and reminiscing their own dads. I see wives who are celebrating their husbands. It has left me with a lot of thoughts. I am not going to share them all, simply because they are complicated and too deep for this venue.

But I have decided a few of them are worth sharing……

My dear husband of almost 11 years is quite simply amazing. I don’t publicly brag on him as often as I should, but today is a perfect time to give him some much needed applause. I was just going to post a cute collage on instagram of him with each baby (see below). Then when I went to make the collage I realized something- what this man has done is big.

At the age of 17, we found out I was pregnant. I will never forget those few days of pure panic. I remember Joel being so calm as I cried and cried and cried. I remember the next day we were in his truck and I said “Joel, what in the world are we going to do?” and he just looked at me with the most sincere eyes and said “we will do whatever it takes” He has stood by those words to this day.

As I think about all of that now, I think about how easy it would have been for him to say- I don’t know what you are doing, but I am having no part of this! But he didn’t. Instead, he went to doctor appointments, watched me gain weight, get moody, get sick, held my hand through labor, and then he loved our son with everything he had. I watched him work his booty off, and finish his senior year of high school, all while I was pregnant and having a baby. He stood by me and has never even once complained about our situation.

Now, 12 years+ I can say that the boy who was strong for me, even though he was scared to death, has become the most amazing, Godly husband and father. He has been our provider, my rock, the love of my life. He has given me 4 amazing, beautiful children. He has become the leader of our household and made all of my dreams a reality. He has worked so hard over the years and continues to do so. He is showing our kids what it means to be a good husband and father. He is caring, loving, and passionate about what he does. He is truly amazing and I thank God daily for him. I don’t think I can ever put into words how grateful I am for this man. He is one of a kind and I am proud to be his wife!