This is another one of those posts I didn’t plan to write. I didn’t have this on my ‘blog calendar’ for the week, but the Lord really laid this on my heart. Sunday will be my husband’s first Father’s Day. I have spent a lot of this week thinking about what that means for him, for me and for our family.
Dear Josh,
This Sunday will be such a special day for you, for our family, it is your FIRST Father’s Day! How cool? Looking back almost 7 years ago, I don’t think either of us could ever have imagined the journey we would have traveled thus far. We have had our ups and downs, we have been through trials and laughter, we have seen joy and much sorrow. We have been through the deaths of so many close family members, and seen the birth of new ones.
Last year, one sweet day in May, our lives changed forever. They say “two pink lines change everything”, but I don’t think we really knew how true that was, until we experienced it. You stood by my side through my entire pregnancy. You were there through the morning (and evening) sickness, the swollen feet, the leg cramps, the high blood pressure, the bed rest, the hospitalization, the 18 hours of labor and scary moments that led to my C-section. You were the first person to hold our son. You held my hand and cried with me as we heard him cry for the first time. You helped me in and out of bed after my C-section. You stayed up with our son the first night, when I needed rest so badly. You smiled and laughed with me as we celebrated the life of this precious little one we call ours.
The day after his birth, you knew something was wrong. You knew, maybe even more than I did, that our little one was sick. You vocalized that concern, a concern which I am convinced saved our little boy’s life. You were the one by my side when we walked down the hall to see our little boy hooked up to oxygen and the concerned look on the doctor’s and nurses’ faces as they tried to find out what was wrong. You held me up when I could barely stand, but refused to leave his side. You were strong, when I couldn’t be. You cried with me, you held me while I cried. You walked up and down the hospital halls with me, when I could barely walk, to see our little one in the NICU. You sat with me while I held him, wires and monitors hooked to every part of his body. You rejoiced with me at every milestone throughout his journey in the NICU, when we found out they were cutting his oxygen down, when we found out he was finally on ‘room air’, when they turned the warmer off, when his vitals finally started regulating. You cried tears of joy with me when our sweet little boy was finally brought back into our room, days later. You selflessly did anything that I asked during our almost 2 week hospital stay. I know that I wasn’t easy to deal with, I know that it was the hardest situation that we have endured during our relationship. You stayed. You cried. You smiled. You held me. You were there.
Can you believe all of that was almost 6 months ago? We have been ‘mommy and daddy’ for almost 6 months! It hasn’t been an easy journey. We have learned a lot. We have laughed together at diaper blow outs, we have had stressful moments with barking dogs and a crying baby. We have learned, slowly, how to balance it all.
You have not only given me the greatest gift in our son, but you also gave me the gift of being able to stay at home and raise him. You saw the desire in my heart to be at home with him, to be a homemaker. You prayed and you felt that the Lord was leading our family in that direction. You have given me the opportunity to live this amazing life that I live. You work hard. You work hard for our family and because you know that it is what the Lord has called you to do. You go to school full-time, you work full-time and you come home and give your family all of you.
Although you may have not had the perfect childhood, you strive to give our son (and future children) the best childhood possible. You see the need to make Christ the center of our home. You lead our family in a way that most men do not understand or even see the need to. You wake up early to read your Bible and pray, you listen to sermons throughout the day and you come home and read to our son. You make Christ the center of our home, even when I lose focus. You love me as you are called to and you are raising our son the in the Biblical way that a father is called to raise his son. You are such a blessing to me and our family. I am so thankful for the spiritual leader that you are, the Godly man that you are, the loving husband and amazing father that you are. You have grown into more than I could have ever asked for in a husband and partner in life. I may not always show it, but I am so thankful for you.
You are the rock in our family, you are my best friend, partner in everything, confidant, and the best dad to our sweet little boy. I love you, I am so thankful for you and the man that you are. I hope that this Father’s Day and every Father’s Day after is all that you want it to be. I hope you know how much we love you. I hope you know how much I truly appreciate and respect you.
Love, Me
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Thank you! Looking forward to collaborating!
What a beautiful and loving tribute to hubby!
Thank you!
What an awesome story and tribute. And great pictures too. It is so difficult having a little one who is hurt–I can’t even imagine and am so glad everything worked out. Wishing your entire family an incredible first Father’s Day!
Thank you! Yes, hardest thing we have been through, but God is so good! Happy Father’s Day to you!
Just precious. It’s one thing to be a great dad, but another to for the wife to acknowledge it. I had someone tell me once that she never complimented her husband because she didn’t want him to think he was better than her. My heart grieved over that marriage. The picture of your sweet baby and husband is sweet.
That breaks my heart! We are to build our spouses up…that is just so selfish, I want him to know how much I appreciate him and how much he means to me. We aren’t promised tomorrow!
Oh my gosh so sweet! The bottom picture is so cute. Congratulations on your first Father’s day.
We’re twins, side by side at CC link up today with our Father’s Day posts. So sweet — and the pictures (amazing!)
Thank you!!!
This will be my husband’s first Father’s Day as well. We’ve been married 7 years also, if I did my match correctly! I feel the same way with my husband. He definitely was a huge help during the first month of having our first baby. He did the all the chores, including cooking, which is not something he likes to do usually! So I know he truly loves me. 🙂 What a great idea for a post! The best thoughts are unplanned.
Thank you so much for reading…it is amazing how they step up and help out when we truly need them, isn’t it? I have an entirely new respect for my husband after my pregnancy!
Beautiful post!!
Thank you!
How sweet! I hope he has a great day
It was, thank you for taking the time to read!
Such a beautiful tribute! May God bless you and you family!
Thank you!!
This was so sweet made me tear up! Happy Fathers day to your husband, you both are awesome
Thank you for taking the time to read!!
This was very sweet and reminds me of the emotions I felt on my hubby’s first Father’s Day. I hope you both enjoy these special moments.
Thank you! It was a very special day!