Taking care of two small children does not leave much spare time especially this summer. But Ann Elizabeth's nap schedule is more regular and they are both sleeping right now so I wanted to pause and thank the wonderful father of my children for all of the many things that he does for us.
This summer we have been missing Daddy desperately as a youth minister's summers are usually chaotic. This one has been nothing less. I have continually complained that "I didn't sign up to be a single mom," but it has made me more thankful for all that he does around here.
1. He is the one who makes it all possible for me to raise his children the way we want them to be raised, at home. As you may guess youth directors don't have a large salary, many husbands would ask their wives to share the financial burden. But my husband does his job with joy and excellence and is content with what we have. More then that he does not worry about tomorrow. He trusts in the Lord's provision. We have always been well taken care of and I know that the main reason is because he's not always wanting more. He does what he feels God is calling him to do and doesn't let society's materialistic pressures get to him. Have I mentioned that he earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Marketing in five years. And not only is he really good at it, but he could make a lot of money doing it. Instead he is trying to be a godly influence for the next generation (which he is also really good at doing)!
2. He is always there for OUR children. After working with other people's kids all day, he comes home to our growing boy who needs his Daddy more and more each day. Alex has been gone three weeks over the last month, with only one week break in between. This week he came home from a six day trip to camp, having just driven about six hours. After having an exhausting week, we walked into the door about 8:30 that night. He was asleep but not only let Sterling wake him up but then devoted the next hour and a half (I wouldn't let either of them stay up any longer) to him much of which consisted of "playing rough with Daddy" something he was desperately missing. After Sterling went to bed he then talked and cooed with his adoring daughter who was wired as soon as she saw Daddy too!
3. I don't even know how to use the lawn mower. It would be so easy to show me how to ride around on it, especially during summers like this, but he doesn't. He does all the yard work, trash, getting things out of the attic, moving around car seats, packing and unpacking the car, driving, getting firewood in the freezing cold. If I could say that he doesn't know how to use the dishwasher or the dryer, my selfish response would be resentment, but he will come in and help me with those things too. When I feel bad about it, his response is always something like, "You've been dealing with the kids all day, it's ok if you need some help."
4. He lovingly disciplines our children. It is so helpful that I don't have to be the bad guy all of the time. Sometimes I feel like I am correcting Sterling all day long, so it is nice when he comes home that someone can help me share the burden.
5. He knows how to raise a boy. I certainly don't know how to do that. He lets Sterling go out and "help" whenever it isn't dangerous for him to do so. I know that keeping an eye on a little boy with a short attention span usually makes a task longer, but he lets him come out and feel manly even if it just watching Daddy hang shelves.
There are so many others but I hear Sterling now. We MISS you!!
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