A lot of people do things the “right” and “conventional” way. They date, fall in love, get married, and have babies. It’s how it was designed. I met you when I was already a Mom. I had no intention to date at that point in my life. I was content with it just being Case and I for the long haul. I’m so glad God had better plans for me, than I had for myself. 

You lit a fire in my soul that I had never had. You were soft spoken, kind, patient, and a man of few words, but someone that commanded my attention. I remember loving every single thing about your character, and the quality of who you were. The likes of you were nothing I had ever seen before. 

We took our time with one another. We became such good friends, and then we dated after a long time of realizing we didn’t want a life without the other in it. I’ll never forget how careful we were of the other, and how God continued to make a way for us to come together. I sat at His feet many a night praying for exactly what He sent me. 

He sent me someone that wakes up wanting to make my day easier. Someone that is selfless with me, and a little boy that isn’t his blood. Someone that my little boy watches, listens to, and admires. He sent me someone that takes my little boy fishing, telling him what each fish are, and what bait to use. Case is now a fisherman connoisseur because of you. He sent me someone that shows my little boy how to treat a lady. He watches you hug me, ask me how my day is, and someone that prays over me. He watches you give me grace all day, every day. 

Recently, Case and I were talking about being honorable. The conversation led into how you never cheat in life: a test, a game, a friend, a spouse. He looked me dead in the eye, and said “I bet a lot of people look at my J-Pop, and wanna cheat with him.” I died out laughing because it was the most back-handed compliment. I said, “well, your J-Pop would never do that.” Case quickly told me, “He would say to them ‘I’m married. You’re married. This is wrong.’ “ He knows how honorable you are; always saying how you would never do this, or you always do this. That’s something that I didn’t teach him; you did. 

To the Dad that shows my son what it looks like to love Jesus. 

To the Dad that shows my son what it looks like to lead a family. 

To the Dad that treats his wife like the Bride of the Church. 

To the Dad that sacrifices so many things for his family. 

To the Dad, that packs the truck down for a weekend at a baseball field with snacks, drinks, fans, wagons, and candy cash. 

To the Dad that is quick to listen, and slow to anger with ever flowing grace. 

To the Dad that makes their backyard a baseball field so that whiffle ball can be played all day, every day. 

To that Dad that loves a child like his own. He’s your son by your choice. “He isn’t your blood, but he’s your boy.” 

I can’t wait to watch you be the Dad to a girl that will have the very best first love of her life. 

I can’t wait to watch you put bows in her hair, and take her on dates. 

I can’t wait to watch her reach her arms out to you wanting you to hold her. 

I can’t wait to watch her love, trust, and adore the man that her father is. The one where we dated, fell in love, got married, and had pretty babies that look like us both. The man that sets the bar so high for her standards. The man that shows her how she is to be treated, loved, and respected. 

I’m so thankful for you, Jason. I’m thankful for the man you are, the Husband, and the Dad. I could not have picked a better partner or person to raise my children with. You are infinity and beyond for me. You are my beauty in the broken, and my silver lining. A lifetime with you is never enough. Happy Father’s Day, my love!