The Father Daughter Ball

“Being a daddy’s girl is like having permanent armor for the rest of your life.” ~ Marinela Reka

She spotted her name on the envelope in the mailbox and couldn’t wait to rip it open. We stood at the kitchen island watching her closely and I think she sensed that this was no ordinary card.

We watched as a variety of expressions came over her face as she read the words on the card. A little bit of bewilderment mixed with a touch of excitement and maybe even a twinge of embarrassment. This girl does NOT like to be the center of attention.

She looked to her Daddy to explain the meaning behind this invitation and he asked her if she would please be his date to the upcoming Father-Daughter Ball. The sweet smile and hug she gave him was all the answer he needed.

The big day arrived and with it a white box tied with a ribbon magically appeared on her bed. Inside she found a sparkly, poofy pink dress fit for a princess.

But before she could put it on, this particular princess had to first put on a basketball uniform so that she could play in her final game of the season.

It wasn’t long before 4 o’clock rolled around and it was time to get ready for the ball. Hair was curled, tights tugged on and the sparkly pink dress was slipped over her head, carefully so as not to mess up any curls. She picked out the perfect necklace to accessorize her new frock and eagerly went to show her daddy.

But, he was nowhere to be found.

She was told not to worry but that perhaps she should follow the instructions on the invitation and wait near the front door. Sure enough, the doorbell rang and after a peek through the window the mystery of where daddy had gone was solved.

Standing at the front door, waiting for his girl with a corsage box in his hand, was the man who loves her more than life itself. The man who is showing her what it means to be cherished and adored.

The man who causes her eyes to light up and who makes her laugh hysterically. The man who has always been willing to join a tea party or sit and have his hair done at the ‘beauty parlor’.

The man who loves her mama and shows her in a million big and small ways how a man takes care of his wife.

 The man who has set the bar very high for all of her future dates even if he claims that none of those dates will be taking place until she is at least 30.

The man who is teaching her how to be strong and that girls can be both competitive and sweet. How they need to know how to work in the yard as much as they know how to clean a bathroom.

The man who is without a doubt the best earthly representation a girl could ever have of the love of her heavenly Father.

Upon arriving home, she eagerly filled me in on all of the details of their magical evening together. I heard all about the horse drawn carriage ride and how silly all of the dads were when they were dancing and how she laughed so hard that she almost fell over. Oh and that she ate 10 olives and one cupcake.

And then, with a big yawn, the princess was ushered to her bed where she fell asleep in record time. Not too long after that, her daddy and I went in to make sure she was all covered up and as he peered down at her sleeping form, he told me how desperately he wished that time would just slow down. How much he wanted her to just stay this age and not grow up.

But that even though before we know it she will be a young woman, she will always be his little girl.

Thank you so much for meeting us at the Fence today,