Father's Day

Here's a picture of Craig celebrating his birthday and Father's Day with his family yesterday. (at least he and the kids look great-I look very tired). Brendan was really into the cake.

"Did I just eat that whole piece of cake?!"

"Well I wouldn't want to leave any crumbs..."

This is what happens when Mama is upstairs nursing Annaliese and I tell Trinity to take pictures of Daddy opening gifts:
I guess the shoes were real show stoppers

The excitement of opening the box is intense...better take that picture


Wow...a shirt..remind me to ask for toys for my birthday thinks Brendan
Daddy is getting excited about socks?! Did I miss something...

Today is a really special day for me. It's a day that I celebrate Craig as a wonderful father to our children. It's also a day I celebrate my earthly fathers.This is the Leffler clan. My grandmother is first. My father Rick is second from the left. He looks just like my late grandfather. Next is Cherie, Mary (whom everyone says I resemble), Jase (or Jason), and Brady (again my mom always says I look like him).

I have two dads. Rick is my father who helped to bring me into this world. My parents divorced when I was very young so I didn't get to know him or how I might be like him. But because he is my biological father there is a tether that ties him to my heart. When I hear from him my heart still leaps and I wonder how he is. I may not speak to him or hear from him for months but I pray for him and often think of him. When I see pictures of him I often look for resemblances I might have with him. I am proud of him and how he has excelled in law enforcement and now in his security position in Colorado. And I am happy that he has been blessed with a family of 4 boys and two other daughters of his own...even if I feel a twinge of bittersweet that I don't know his other children well and am not included in their lives. That is the heartache of divorce.

This is a picture of a picture from my wedding of my dad and his daughter.This is the Belt clan...I'm the dork in the purple, then my cute little sister Tanya, and my Dad, and Lori (she looks thrilled-she hates getting her picture taken)-this in the 80's.

And then there is my Dad. Wow...how can I describe this man who came into our lives when I was only 3. The same age Brendan is now. He said I won his heart because I was so adorable. I think he won mine by caring about me, making me feel special, and by wanting to be my dad. He may not be my father by blood, but in my heart there is no difference. When a child is adopted into a family the trust that is gained and the bonds of security and love that form are never broken. My dad married my mom and he took my older sister and I with those vows. His mother and father probably didn't like the idea. He had never married and my mother has been and has children of her own. But the way my dad treated us from the beginning never let us know we were any different. He worked hard to provide for us, he would spend time wrestling us, taking us camping, having tickle fests, disciplining us, giving us advice, teaching me how to ride my bike, how to dive, how to be strong and unafraid...the list goes on and on. He taught me to be who I am today. He taught me not to give up. I think I inherited my stubbornness and competitiveness from my mom but from my dad...he taught me that if anyone tells me I can't do something I make sure I show them I can. He is the reason that when I met Craig I was suspicious...he wanted the best for me. And he is the reason that when I saw Craig was the real deal...I said "I do". I wanted to marry a man like my dad...one who wouldn't give up, wouldn't give in, and wouldn't walk away no matter how tough life got. That's what I married. And I thank my dad. I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.