Dear Dads...

It is known that it takes a village to raise a healthy, well-rounded child.  As on Mother's Day, tomorrow as we acknowledge the dads in our lives, I recognize that many "Dads" deserve a giant thank you from me.

So here goes...

Thank you to the dads who father my children as their own...

 Thank you to the dads who protect us, because, after all, you are "Big Al".

Thank you to the dads who teach them all as individuals how to be a team...

 Thank you to the dads who love me like their own....even though I wasn't...

 Thank you to the dads who adore everyone the same...every time...

Thank you to the dads that are ridiculously funny, but at the same time ridiculously filled with genius, love, and community...

 Thank you to the dads who want to spend time with their boy more than all the tea in China...

 Thank you to the dads that aren't afraid to show their own love...

Thank you to the dads who, through THE Father's whispers, teach us how to be GREAT dads...

Thank you to the dads who let you be who you are...even if that means we call you 'Johnny Boy'...

 Thank you to the dads who make little girl's hearts happy...

 Thank you to the uncles who take pride in being mini-daddies...

 Thank you to the dads who leave everlasting footprints on your heart...

Thank you to the dads who prove faith and love ARE enough...

 Thank you to the dads who love, protect, and play...

 Thank you to the dads that offer guidance and love in each breath...

 Thank you to the dads who aren't afraid to be vulnerable...

 Thank you to the dads of so many strands and experiences, that help make life one hell of an awesome roller coaster ride...

 Thank you to the dads who always put their families first...

 Thank you to the dads who say, "I do.  I do love you 100% as my own. Forever..."

 Thank you to the dads who embrace the miraculous gift they've been chosen to love...

 Thank you to all the step dads that show the kids how important it is to love the craziness outta the mom...

 Thank you to the dads who make fun a priority...

Thank you to the dads who give you a namesake, full of agape love, to live by...

Thank you to the dads who take their family to Disney, smiling the entire time, even when you have pneumonia...

 Thank you to the dads that love all the kids with all their heart...

 Thank you to the dads that show love by saying, "That's my boy..."

Thank you to the dads who love cotton candy more than the little ones...

Thank you to the dads who know the value of family vacations...

Thank you to the dads that do sleepovers...

 Thank you to the dads who aren't afraid to give away their hearts to little girls...

 Thank you to the dads who don't mind looking ridiculous if it makes your kids smile...

 Thanks to the dads who remember what it's like to be a kid...

 Thank you to the dads who know what's important...

 Thank you to the dads that make sports and consequently, commitment, a priority...

 Thank you to the dads who dig seeds out of pumpkins...in the rain...

 Thank you to the dads who dance...with their nephews...that they love to the sky and back...

 Thank you to the dads who are willing to take one for the team...

 Thank you to the dads who get THREE thumbs up...

Thank you to the dads that know beauty...on the outside, too...

Thank you to the dads that have dimples...and allow you to fall deeply in love with them each day...

Thank you to the dads who teach you to kill 'em with kindness, that anything worth its weight in gold is worth its risk, that hard work will and does pay off...if only in your conscience and...to always, always, always put family first.
 

Thank you to the dads that can no longer be here...but that place impressions on their bloodline anyway...

Thank you to the dads whom I miss,terribly; but whose infectious laugh I got to hear, while at the same time calling you Daddy, so it's okay...

Thank you to the dads who swoop in an allow God to use him as
 their 'miracle'.

And thank you to the Ultimate Dad: Our Father in Heaven...who was the FIRST sacrificial parent.  One who loves through so many venues and who deserves buckets of thanks for His fatherly love; as well as,  the many gifts He personally blessed me with as seen in the above photos...

I praise Him on this Father's Day and every day.

So, thanks Dads.  For lending a helping hand...and your complete heart.

Love,

Kelley