A Father’s Love

I knew my husband would be an amazing Dad from the moment I met him.

Of course, I didn’t tell him that right away. I’m pretty sure that would fall into the creepy “I-just-met-this-girl-and-she-is-already-talking-about-our-non-existent-children” category!

But, I thought it. And I just knew.

The thing is though, that you don’t really know until you know….you know?

And our road to becoming a mommy and a daddy wasn’t easy. In fact it was downright painful. You can read more about that journey here.

I’ll never forget the moment when I got the call from the adoption agency. I was on my way to Walmart and I had to pull off to the side of the road because I was shaking so badly. They said those words, “you’ve been chosen” and they became the sweetest three words in the English language! I wanted to call my husband right away but I also wanted to have one of those “moments” that all of our friends were having. You know, where the wife surprises her husband with the positive pregnancy test wrapped up like a gift?

So, I searched and searched the store until I found the perfect way to tell him the news. A little powder blue bib that said, “I love my Daddy!”

I took it home, wrapped it up and laid it on the bed where he would be sure to see it when he got home from work.

He walked in the door and I followed him up the stairs and waited as he sat down on the bed and slowly started removing his shoes. “OPEN THIS NOW!!”, I said. I’m pretty sure he thought I had lost my mind.

He opened the package, pulled out the little bib and said, “oh, that’s cute”. Huh? Wait a minute. That’s the reaction I get? And then it dawned on me. He didn’t realize what it meant. That HE was the daddy on the bib!

So, I told him. Told him he was going to finally be a daddy to a precious little boy arriving in 6 weeks. And we held each other and sobbed.

And I knew.

Knew that this man would be the most amazing father. And that the longing he had to be called “Daddy” would add an incredible layer to this new role in his life.

But, you don’t really know…until you know.

Until you see him holding that precious gift in his arms and the joy on his face at this fulfilled dream. Until you watch him look at that tiny face with complete and utter adoration. Until you see him being followed around by that little boy who would truly follow him to the ends of the earth. Until you watch him allow his “shadow” to “help” him with things around the house with so much patience.

Until you see him wearing a little dress-up hat and sipping “tea” at the latest party his little girl is hosting in her room. Until you notice the way that little girl’s eyes light up when she sees her daddy walk into a room.

Until you realize that watching him as a father makes you want to be a better mother.

And then you KNOW!

Happy Father’s Day Robb! You took all of the dreams and hopes I had for the kind of Daddy my kids would have and blew them out of the water. And the love you show all of us every day gives us a glimpse here on earth of how deeply God, our heavenly Father, loves us. With adoration…and intensity…and no conditions.

Thank you for choosing me to be on this journey with you!

With all the love in my heart and then some,