Mi Papa.

So I've been meaning to make a gift my dad for sometime now and have not gotten around to it, but since it is father's day today, I've decided to move it to the top of my list in blog form. In my adult years, I've realized how important my dad is in my life and how profound his impact has been and still continues to be. I remember when I was 12 and my name for him changed from "Dad" to "Father" ...and when I was 19, it changed to "drive by dad" now that I am an adult I call him "Papa", Which means to me so much more than I can express. He is the person I call when the chaos in my world becomes too much to process. It is his voice that calms me down. I can always rely on his advice to give me a godly perspective. He lifts me up and encourages me to accomplish things I wasn't sure I could before. It's his voice and words that I hear in my head when making big decisions. I never have to question his motives or his intentions. He was there for all of the big moments in my life. He came out to visit me when I moved away in my teens, he was the 1st person to greet me when I moved back as a young adult, and the first person I called when I got fired in my twenties. He was the person I was talking to when my husband walked up to me and asked me out. He was the person I talked through the "is-he-THE-one" question with (lucky for Doug). He has called to encourage me at just the right time while I was in labor with each of my children and he was there when we adopted the rest. Thank you Papa for always being there for us. You have impacted our lives in so many ways. We all love you so much, I think Doug even more so than me ;) Happy Father's day. I hope you have a wonderful day!

In labor with Thomas. He was born 2 hours later

In labor with Oliver. He was born 2 hours later

Frustratingly in almost, kinda, labor with Juliana (she was born 4.5 hours later)

Papa Took this picture of us and many others that day...