Fathers in our lives

Father's Day 2008

I truly cannot begin to describe how blessed our kiddos are to have their Daddy. He is one of the kindest, most encouraging, and good-natured men I have ever met (gosh, I just HAD to marry that guy!). He is involved in their lives, he provides for them, he prays for them, and he teaches them to be godly young people. In return, they lay at his feet. Their love for him comes from deep within, and their bond is strong. They love to have pillow fights and tickle wars, play tag and football and soccer, and they share his love for anything electronic.

He was there.....
....when Anya was crushed that big brother Nico was leaving for his first day of school...

...for Nico and his neverending thirst for knowledge...

....to teach Alex how to play miniature golf, even when it required a lot of patience....

...when Elia could not go fast enough on uncle Larry's four wheeler...

...or when he needed someone to sit with him in ICU after his fall off the top bench of the bleachers which resulted in a skull fracture (one of the scariest moments of my life)....

...or when Nina first discovered what a "Daddy" was....
...or when she just needed a snuggle 10 months later....
But there are other Fathers in our lives as well ~
Grandpa
who always encourages the kids to try hard, and who lets them do things that make them feel so grown up and important, like running power tools and heavy machinery, and who ALWAYS has gum in his pocket!

Grosvati
(my Dad)
who always returns home from here, leaving a legacy of a special project well done, like this awesome organizer for our mud room. He enjoyed helping Nico work on his own wood working project while he worked in the shop.

This is a picture of both of my parents on their 50th wedding anniversary (3 years ago). My niece Dina is wearing my Mom's wedding dress.

And yet another special Father, the kids' very special
Great-Grandpa
who was a man of honor, of bravery, and a Cowboy through and through.
He loved our kids so much, called them his little critters, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, he would have loved Nina too.

We miss you!