This Father’s Day we were on vacation and it was a fun surprise to send Derek to a Dodgers game. He is a hardcore Dodgers fan and immediately guessed his surprise when I told him I had one. It took the fun out of it for me but to see him overcome with delight left me feeling like a boss. He was pleased to find that as one of the first 40,000 dads in the stadium that sunny Sunday he was treated to BBQ tongs with the LA Dodgers monogram on it. This fit perfectly with the grill he picked out right before we left home as an early gift. It was destiny. He could grill his dogs and watch his Dodgers, the man was in heaven.
Derek and his friend, Kejuan, were enjoying their Father’s Day surprise while the wives of these two watched five children for five hours. NBD.
He’s used them nearly everyday except when Jericho has tried to steal them for his mud pies.
Derek is an intentional and brave daddy to our sons, a strong and considerate partner in life, a lover of people, and a mighty good cook in the kitchen. We are sensing big changes in our lives and through it all he has remained overcome with hope for our family, claiming the best when we are overwhelmed with kids, finances, or work.
I couldn’t ask for more in a husband and father. Think about it, you have no clue how the man you choose will really be in action when kids come on the scene. We were in our early twenties and were barely thinking past the wedding let alone a mortgage, two kids, and bills, bills, bills. Yet here we are, happy as clams, choosing each other day after day, and raising real life humans together.
To you Derek, I love you and can’t imagine life without you at the helm, leading and co-laboring together. On your third father’s day I have to say, it looks really good on you. You are a hero to our children and a faithful companion. A thousand thank yous from the deepest well of my soul.