Father Fest

When I was a little kid my parents always made a big deal out of celebrating Birthday's, Mother's Day and Father's Day. I remember waking up early with my two sisters as my Mom made a crazy full fledge breakfast and we ran around decorating like all get out from cut out hearts to hand made banners. I can close my eyes and be transported back into our kitchen and almost smell my mom's pancakes and see three scrawny little kids running around like mad to make sure Dad's day was special. My parents did the same for us when our Birthday's rolled around. It was a very cool tradition that allowed for a pause from the every day to take time and love on the ones that mattered most. It's one of many things they instilled in me that I am profoundly grateful for. 

Celebrating and lifting up those who hold special places in our hearts is something that should happen more than once a year. Sometimes life has a way of distracting us, clouding our priorities and time can slip through our fingertips where one year becomes five and five years becomes twenty. As I woke this morning fixing breakfast for my husband while chatting on the phone with my Dad as my Mom was still, thirty years later, flipping those pancakes I knew that neither of them had a Dad to call to say, "I love you." Blah. I didn't have the privilege to ever meet my Father's Dad or my Husband's Dad. I know, without words ever needing to be exchanged, that they both miss their Dads very much. Mother's Day and Father's Day is hard for so many who can't pick up the phone or kick a text. 

So as we roll into another week with work, summer classes and life going full steam ahead I encourage you to make a phone call, drop a card in the mail or give a hug to that someone that holds a special place in your heart. Meet up for a chat over coffee on the front porch. Maybe send an old picture that will put a smile on that special someone's face.  Give a hug and an "I love you" without prompting. 

But most of all, don't be a butt head. Don't take the ones you love for granted. Keep your priorities in check. Love fully, richly and unconditionally. Because one day that special someone may not be there.Life's too short to take the ones we love for granted. 

Thank you Dad for never being anything short of awesome and thank you Keith for loving me in the most beautiful and selfless of ways. Happy Father's Day!