Our family is blessed to have a godly, loving, hard-working Daddy who would do anything to keep us safe and well taken care of. I am especially thankful for the burden that he bears to provide for us so I can stay home and care for our kids. Today, he took time to mow the grass before he left for a business trip (on Father’s Day) because he knew that they have been playing out there a bunch since they have a new swing set and he didn’t want the grass to get too high.

Ryan and Hannah had fun building a soap-box derby car for Awana’s this year. Here they are on race night. I bet you can judge by the looks on their faces that the car worked well and Hannah finished in the top 20.


When we found out about our difficulties with Julia’s case in Ethiopia, I knew that Ryan would literally move heaven and earth for our little girl. Here he is getting to work from our room at Morning Coffee Guest House.

But, the truth is we’re even luckier than just having a great Dad. Ryan and I both have terrific, hard-working, caring fathers who love their kids and grandkids and their wives after 40 and 45 years of marriage, respectively. I don’t think that in this crazy world that having a solid foundation to grow up on is something to be taken for granted. I know that I am blessed by having these three men in my life and my kids are reaping that blessing as they grow up as well.

Grandma and Grandpa held down the fort for us while we were in Ethiopia. When we were delayed, they offered us much reassurance and support and continued to care for the girls while keeping the enormity of our situation quiet to them.




Grandpa is a retired Air Force Colonel and retired as a Captain from Delta. My girls know that Grandpa flew airplanes…but what they get to do with Grandpa is get their face painted for Halloween and color Eggs for Easter! And they both have inherited his adventuresome spirit – (biological or not)!


This is one of the places where Papa is happiest – with a lap-full of grandchildren. He would never turn one away, saying there is always room for one more. Good thing since #11 is due to show up in about 3 weeks! Actually, he’s been saying that since I was a kid and always made room for me… funny, the things a kid remembers, hmmm?

My Dad has a heart for the underdog and has uncanny discernment about where his grandkids are coming from. He will take time out for one, or make an astute (but never, ever critical) comment to their parent that is 100% spot-on. Several times, I have been stunned by a comment that he has made that gave me such insight about one of my kids.


This is one trick I have never been very good at – balancing a child on my lap while we are both trying to eat. In fact, I’m quite the stickler on the high chair for eating. Except when it comes to Papa – all the grandkids have had many a meal from this vantage point. Julia had no problem making herself comfortable.

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