A Daddy's Girl

There are no ordinary days and as I look back at my childhood, I look at the days, the moments, the years that my father invested in me. A daddy's girl is what I lovingly call myself. From a very young age, I recognized and cherished the bond I had with my father. He was a figure of strength, courage, wisdom and love that has made me into the person I am today. I can look back at my life and see how his presence made such a profound impact on me. So today, since its Father's Day, I thought I would take a moment to honor him with all his life has taught me.

He was a figure of strength, courage, wisdom and love that has made me into the person I am today

He was the first man I ever fell in love with. I have always loved my Dad. In fact, my parents often told the story that I preferred my dad even as a young child and men in general. They would laugh as I would lift my arms to any man in the room but there was no man that could fill what my Dad was to me. Childhood pictures display my arms wrapped tightly around his neck. There was a love and comfort I found in my daddy's arms.

My first love

A spiritual leader, he was the one who led me to Jesus. I can still recall the day that he prayed with me in his room leading me in the the salvation prayer after I inquired about my sister being baptized. We always had a good church family wherever we lived. Whether leading us in family Bible studies, watching him give his testimony or going on mission trips, my childhood was filled with a Godly example. Early mornings, he was up before all of us at the kitchen table with a cup of black coffee, his Bible laid out alongside a Strong concordance digging for understanding. His spiritual walk has always inspired me to pursue God more!

A spiritual leader 

An amazing provider, we had a good life growing up. Never lacking food on the table, clothes on our back or a car to drive, our needs were always met. I can recall when we lived in St. Louis, he took on an extra job in the evenings and weekends to give us a great Christmas. As teenagers, my sister and I both needed braces, and he sacrificed by paying for very expensive orthodontic work to give us a smile to be proud of. The man that never smiled showing teeth until his fifties after he finally invested in his own set of braces. Our smiles came first. In fact, his motto showed it was always family first! He made financial investments in our future as he paid for his kids to get a college education as well.

An amazing provider

Dad loved to plan family vacations that would include something educational and fun. We saw much of the country during our adventures. Trips I will never forget from Kings Dominion to Valley Forge, Monticello to Wild Wood, Mt Vernon to Rehoboth Beach, our family vacations were cherished moments. Even now, we still enjoy going on family vacations together with the grands.

Our family vacations were cherished moments

A loving husband to my mother for almost forty years. He cherished my mother. I can remember how he would always say how beautiful she was. It was evident he adored her. He loved to take her picture and talk about how photogenic she was. He did whatever it took to make her happy and even when my mom was very sick, he cared for her so very tenderly and graciously. Through sickness and and in health, he was a one woman man for over 40 years through dating and marriage, and his example helped me know what to look for in a husband (and I got a good one!)

A loving husband

Whether he meant to, its in our genes, having him for a father enabled me to have a strong opinion. I appreciate that my Dad gave me a voice. He liked that I could think, reason and defend what I believed. He often told me 'dynamite came in small packages' and that the sky was the limit. He made me feel like I could do anything! To have someone believe in you and instill confidence in you is a priceless gift.

He gave me a voice

A spirit of adventure, he taught us to have fun in life. I rode my first roller coaster with my Dad at Hersey Park, Pennsylvania on the Super Dooper Looper. He had to bribe me with $5 but made me a lover of adventure after that. He only had to pay me once, and I was hooked!

A spirit of adventure

His life displayed resilience and adapting to change. After my mother passed away, I wondered how my dad would be. He sought purpose for the next phase of his life. He retired from his GM job and decided to become a missionary to Africa. Seeing a renewed passion to remain purposeful in life and invest in eternal things as he serve others, makes me respect and honor him even more.

His life displayed resilience 

Not just a dad but now known as Grandpa, watching him love our children is truly priceless. The time he takes to bond with each of them is cherished. He's the math teacher if we can't figure out the homework, the baseball catcher, babysitter, game attender, kiss seeking Grandpa that adores his grands.

Not just a dad but now known as Grandpa

Wise is what I consider my Dad. I can trust him to help me through difficult situations. He is one I know will give sound advice, tell me when I'm wrong and guide me to make sound decisions. I appreciate his presence in my life. I appreciate his love, and if you met him you make think he is a man of few words, but when he speaks its worth listening.

Wise is what I consider my Dad

So today, I honor my Dad for all that he has poured into me and my family. My life would not be where it is without him. Dad, you have made me see The Father as you have fathered me. I love you Dad and forever will be your daddy's girl!

Celebrate You!

Hello June! What an exciting month as school lets out for summer. Time to take a break from the routine of getting up early, making lunches, homework and early bedtime. We welcome summer with open arms by spending the days in the warm sun, relaxing, swimming in the pool, bike rides for ice cream and enjoying late sunsets. Its a glorious time of year. I love the seasons. I love what this month represents. I love June.

We welcome summer with open arms

June is also my birthday month. I've always enjoyed the fact that its half way through the year. I joke, although somewhat serious, that I'm guaranteed a gift every six months between my birthday and Christmas. Not a bad predicament. I'm a gift giver at heart. I love to give, and I also love to receive. Nothing wrong with that in my mind. My husband knows that my birthday will always be celebrated!

I'm a gift giver at heart.

And one should celebrate their birthday. Its our born day. The day the world said hello to the one and only you! See you were uniquely faceted and designed by the Creator, and there will never be another like you. Jeremiah 1:5 says "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Delight in the fact that God has given each of us an extraordinary purpose!

Delight in the fact that God has given each of us an extraordinary purpose!

Psalm 139:13-14a reiterates this stating "For You (God) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers' womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." God Almighty, the Creator, took time, skill, imagination to make each of us unique, special, filled with purpose and value. That's something worth celebrating!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made

Celebrate why you say? Its just another day, another year older and who wants to admit that? Well, I do! I don't mind aging. In fact, I'm hope its true to the saying "Another year older, another year wiser". The years are the chapters in our lives that tell our story.

The years are the chapters in our lives that tell our story.

My story began back in 1977 in the state of Washington just outside of Seattle. I was the second child and second girl. My sister is only 15 months apart from me, and I was a surprise. But not a surprise to God! He knew I was coming. I was raised in a Christian home. My parents were both first generation Christians, and I made Jesus my Lord and Savior at an early age of 3.

I was a surprise but not a surprise to God

I was "a military brat" as my dad served in the US Coast Guard for twenty years which caused us to travel the United States for all of my childhood. I have lived in six states. I've always felt my upbringing caused me to adapt well and welcome change. My dad retired in 1994, and after spending the summer with my best friend's family, my mother picked me up, and I moved to Michigan for my senior year in high school. I attended a very small Christian school where I was number 13 in my class. A huge change from the public school I had attended. This, however, is where I met my husband on the first day when he asked to see my Massachusetts driver's license.

May 19, 1995, Michael and I had our first date to senior prom. He never stopped calling after that, and we dated for five years through college. I was married at the age of 23, a mother by the age of 25. I've been pregnant 7 times. Yikes! Two of which were miscarriages in the early stages. I'm raising 5 children: 4 boys and and the baby girl. Yes, we are done! Someone always asks…..

I graduated from Oakland University in 2000, the year we were married, with a Bachelors in General Studies. At the time, I was aspiring to be a physical therapist and worked at a clinic as the assistant office manager. The Lord had other plans, and as I got involved at church, I realized my love to sing was more than that but a calling. I have been leading worship since 2001.

I realized my love to sing was more than that but a calling

Michael and I will celebrate our 15 year anniversary this summer. That has many stories in itself but rest on the words, love, grace and forgiveness. We bought our first home in Roseville where we lived for eleven years and outgrew with our ever growing family. In 2011, we moved in with my dad after my mother passed away. Although that chapter of my life and still is a sad reality, the relationship we have built with my Dad is absolutely priceless.

This is my story, although very abbreviated, defining who I am. A first hand account filled with details to my current life chapter. See life is a journey. A series of events that walks us down the path of life filled many seasons of change, stretching, difficulty, joy and tears. All compiled into a unique story that is quite marveling.

Too many of us never account for our life story. We struggle through the day to day to just survive and don't look back at the fact that we've journeyed. It can be painful at times stirring up emotions that we don't want to experience again or perhaps shed light on an unhappy place we are living now. But why wait until our funeral for someone else to account our story? Lets allow our life to be told and propel us towards the deepest desires in our heart. Perhaps thats why I love birthdays. Its a day to say here's where my story began. Here's where I've journeyed to. Here's who I am.

I think aging perhaps can discourage us. We set a timeline in our minds of where we want to be, how we want to be living and what we had hoped to accomplish. This can make us give into the thoughts that there's been wasted years, wasted time. We look back with regret instead of looking forward with anticipation. I think that's a tactic of the enemy to keep us from living hopeful. Lets not fall for that. If we look at life in seasons or as chapters, we realize that our story is still being written.

We look back with regret instead of look forward with anticipation

I turn 38 in a matter of days. I can't believe that I'm almost 40!!! Forty always seemed so old to me, yet the closer I get, I realize its pretty young. There's so much of my life still to be played out. No matter if life has turned out just as I thought it would, I recognize that each day presents an opportunity that is the door to my future.

Each day presents an opportunity that is the door to your future

So let me encourage each of you today to begin to celebrate you! Celebrate the mere fact that you've made it this far. Celebrate the fact that with God nothing is impossible. Celebrate the fact that you are still breathing. Celebrate you! Your life has purpose and meaning! You matter, and you are worth celebrating!

Take time to sit down and account for your story. Remain hopeful that you are just in a chapter and your story has not ended. Rest in the fact that God has set you apart for an amazing purpose that as we seek Him, He will unfold the destiny of our lives. You matter! You are loved! You are celebrated by Father God. Today, let's celebrate you!