Father's Day

I think Matt has worked almost every Father's Day since we moved to Michigan. Somehow he ends up working Mother's Day and Father's Day every year. But I guess it's about having a special day for him, not about what day that falls on, right? Matt will get his day on Tuesday.

My own father and I have had a weird relationship. Growing up he spent a lot of time traveling for work and I don't have a lot of memories of him, I'm sorry to say. When I got married and started having kids things changed. We've butted heads a couple of times on the way I choose to raise my kids and over decisions I've made with my life, but I know he's still proud of me and loves me. He has grown as a grandfather and is re-learning, after a long time without small children around, how to act and react and show them attention and love. He is a "fixer" who always wants to do what he can do help and will give to his children in their time of need. And I know that the love is there. And that's what's most important to me.

And beyond my biological father, I've been blessed with a gracious and caring father-in-law. He has accepted me as the daughter he didn't create and loved me as part of the family from very early on. He listens to my rules about my kids (and breaks them when I'm not around) and is the father-in-law all my friends are envious of. I'm grateful to have him in my life.

I have really been blessed with a great handful of examples of father figures in my life, from men at my childhood church to uncles who care for me as a father would. And my boys have a huge number of male role models in their lives with uncles, cousins, grandfathers and even a great grandfather. We have all been truly blessed.