{Happy Father's Day}

Here's my wonderful husband! David Nelson--husband to one, father to three~(there's a card below, if you want to just scroll until you see it!) I giggled when I took this picture, because his hair was SOOOO long---he usually keeps it really short, but he just got too busy and didn't get it cut...anyway, I love this picture of him because it captures him! I'm sure some of you are wondering why I have a picture of my husband up here and not my daddy. Well, this is a tribute to my husband---the father of my children. He's a good father---we have a happy family--lots of laughter, and lots of noise. Too much for his taste sometimes! David is not the dad who seems to be super dad----but he is. I remember when we first moved to North Carolina---David brought this Texas girl across the Mississippi and far into North Carolina---and not just to visit, but TO LIVE!!!If you know anything about Texans, we really like our home state---and we don't like to leave it. We were headed here for him to go back to school. We had two little girls and I had been staying home with them. He knew that my desire was to continue to stay at home with them---but how would we do that while he went back to school? He worked several jobs and went to school in order to allow me to continue to stay at home. That's the kind of dad he is....he knew that I wanted to be at home. He knew that this was important to our children, so he worked A LOT and took an overload to give our children that sense of security they had known their entire lives. He still does that sort of thing---he teaches extra classes to provide for our family. He wants our children to have opportunities, so he takes on an extra student at school to give them the extra money it takes to travel abroad.

He encourages our children to think. At dinner time David always asks our children thought provoking questions---most days they love that---some days they don't...but he asks them anyway! Some days Joshua and I just sit there and let the girls and David go after it---I know it won't be long before Joshua joins in. I will then be forced to engage my mind....something I try to avoid most days!!

He's a good husband. he LOVES me---23 years he's put up with me---through cross-stitching, Longaberger Baskets, scrapbooking, and now my stamping stuff!!! It's become fodder for the Christmas letter! And this is the easy stuff he puts up with!

He loves our children---he has developed such a sweet relationship with the girls. As they have grown up, their relationship has changed and matured into more than just the little girl viewing her daddy as her protector and hero, and into a growing friendship. It's a sweet thing to see. I love to see him outside playing baketball or football with Joshua ---this is what Joshua needs right now---He's even a better dad for him now than he was with our girls---age will do that to you!

He loves my family---his "in-laws"---all of them. My clan can be a quirky bunch, but he loves us! This is so special to me! He treats my parents like his own and he honors them whenever possible. He is a good man.

He serves the community. He's an elder at our church, he's the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Trinity Academy of Raleigh, he teaches Sunday School. He's KIND---this would not have been a word I used to describe him when we were dating---don't get me wrong, he wasn't mean, but he has matured into a very kind person. His dad was kind--he always thought of others---and he raised kind, thoughtful children. David loves the Lord, serves others and honors his family. How could I ask for a better father for my children? He's a great example to them of a godly man. He's a blessing to me. I wish I had begun this note before midnight on Saturday night---I might have had a better text. But I couldn't let Father's Day get away from me without letting the world know what a great dad my kids have!

SOOOO-Here's the card I made for him. I used Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge as my starting point. I copied the idea to put the tree on the side of the paper from this post by Lauren Meador---she's fantastic! I am always amazed when I see her projects---she sees things in stamps/paper/alterables that I NEVER would see. She's so creative. I'm so glad she shares it for everyone to see and use. I'll put the details in the recipe---I need to get going! I hope your Father's Day is a special one!

Whether you have your daddy still on earth or not, I hope you have some good memories of your dad today!

Hugs~

Kathleen

Recipe:

Stamps: Father Knows Best-PTI

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sunrise, Stamper's Select White, Father Knows Best DP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sunrise

Accessories: Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, 5/8" Summer Sunrise Grosgrain, Paper Piercing tool and mat