hope your father's day was joyous: a letter to my dad

SO thankful for a dad who loves me, genuinely wants God's will for me, is super smart, has SUCH discernment and wisdom from the LORD, is an honest businessman, let me follow the Lord's leading to homeschool, who teaches, encourages, and guides me along the narrow way, blesses me every day by his life, brings home salmon {or in the past even king crab legs} from work, and whose grace & mercy is new every morning, just like my Heavenly Father's.
As for special talents and abilities, he has fixed more car problems than I could ever count and even rebuilt HIS dad's jeep!
I love you, dad!  I'll always be your little girl.  Your prayers for me have been helping me along and so powerful in my life!  You even prayed a certain astonishingly faithful friend into my life so many years ago: Kate Crane.  Did she know this?  I do not know.  But now she definitely knows:)  You were the one who prayed her into my life many years ago, even though we've technically been friends since we were three or four...you prayed her into my life at a time I really needed that.  (And look at what a blessing she is to my life at this moment in time!)  Wow, thank you. but most of all, thank God.
(I think some government leaders in nations hostile to the gospel should follow your example and allow freedom of faith.)  I mean, maybe this is just my opinion, but you know, hey, I think you've got this precedence down in our family.  You're an amazing spiritual leader.  i love family Bible studies with you.
You have given so much, and I am so grateful for every single thing you have ever done for me and how blessed I am to have you in my life.  You are a godly example and wonderful father.
I also feel very pulled to say I realize you've graciously endured a lot because of my life in the past few years.  I hope you know I'm sorry for my own faults but also know how eternally grateful I am that you have continually waited for me, even though I seem to have taken a longer time than most people to fulfill what the Lord has called me to.  My words are not pretend or rote.  I really mean them.  I am human, as are you, but I hope that sooner than later, you will see come to pass what we have all been waiting for for so long.  I realize that maybe you haven't been given the credit you deserve.  And you deserve A LOT.  Your planning and foreknowledge.  Your passions and dedication.  Much of what is my life is because of you.  For everything, daddy....seriously, for everything...thank you.
And I know this is getting REALLY serious and deep and personal here, but I'll take the full risk of embarrassment and say... please don't die on me so early like grandpa John did on you and us all (but I'm completely thankful for the life he was given).  I delight in your life.  What I've been saying so long about living so long I really mean.  I'm not the only one who wants to live to 120.  I'm setting a new trend and certainly my dad will join in this new movement with me: it's cool to be like Moses and live long lives!:)  I want you to live that long with me.  one hundred and twenty.  let's do it.  And if I'm not a good enough reason to live so awesomely, let's just let God be the reason.  and I don't mean to be be all creepy and sober and talking like this on father's day.  because if you think about it, it's like bringing to the surface a reality that is so exceptionally bright and sure by faith!  I want you in my life and I want to see the changes and good things that come.  the millions of them.  we are not slaves to what life is right now.  I will let life be different, for you and for me.  let's let God change our lives and make us come alive and have new lives.
You have been set up by God to be my provider and protecter!  My encourager.  The one who is patient with me.  Thank you for your patience with me!  and I delight in the freedoms and words {and advice} you give me:)  Thank-you!!!
Thanks for your faithfulness to our family (especially considering the darkness that exists quite near us), your steadfast endurance, faithful kindnesses, and your love for Jesus, which is the solid foundation of your life.  by the way, I hope you are glad grass is growing in the yard this year;)
Thanks for teaching me how to drive a stick shift (that was so fun to do that with you this week!) and thanks for taking us boating today!!  I hope you are honored more than you could have ever asked, dreamed, or imagined by my life.  and wherever God takes the both of us, even if we are separated in presence, our hearts are united in His love.
Memories with you:  Me so little you could hold me still (but this is your memory).  Home videos (goodness, countless).  Tea.  Growing raspberries.  Bayfield.  Colorado.  Summer storms.  (Remember that speech I tried to give to honor you and I couldn't stop crying?  you're that amazing.)  Jumping into the ocean where sharks were.  Church.  Blessings.  Boating.  Strawberries.  Adventures to the National Bible Bee.  Bible Study Fellowship.  Windswept hair in the jeep.  Watching National Convention commercials together.  And laughing hysterically at them.  (also together.)  Whenever you laugh at movies, I can't help but laugh.
God is doing amazing things in and through you.  You're not just a good dad, but a great dad!  (and honestly, if it were not for you, I would not even exist.)
You definitely deserve this honor and recognition today.
"I can't wait to see where you'll be in thirty years"  and "I will always love you!"
Now go live a full life to be 120 (or until Jesus comes back...that's cool too).
#iloveyou #forever #courageousmasculinity #galekino
yay for letting me travel across this nation many miles to do TeenPact this year and yay for dads!  Once again, joyful father's day, dad!  Hugs:)  I praise God for you!  All glory be to Christ.  Soli Deo Gloria!