Nothing Better

At work I have a photo screensaver that pops up after a couple of minutes of the computer being idle. I have a specific set of photos that I like to have as the slide show. The slide show has mostly photos that I have taken or that I am involved with. So, recently I have been noticing a lot of the photos are of me and my daughters having 'a good ole time'. Some are of us playing football, or rough housing, some are of us at the beach. I had this thought the other day!

There is not one thing better in life then being a dad.

(Little disclaimer here: I am sorry if you don't have a dad active in your life currently. )

I am really grateful that I am able to be apart of my two daughter's lives. I love watching them learn, laugh, and love. The girls and I have been spending more time together lately and I believe that I am learning as much from the girls as they are learning from me. Through them God has been showing me what takes to be a child of God. It takes faith, patience, love, and grace. I am and will be forever grateful that God blessed me and my wife with these (and more God willing) wonderful gifts! Below are the photos from the our recent family vacation.

Fatherhood

I love being the hero that can make "IT" all better...

I love brushing off scrapes and boo boos.
I love walking hand and hand...

I love hearing "how was your day at work dad?"
I love tucking in at night.
I love praying for bad dreams to go away
I love giving "Piggy back rides"
I love tickle wars!!!!
I love tea parties!!!!

I love answering WHY, WHAT, WHO questions.
I love telling once upon time stories.
I love saying... "YOU LOOK SO PRETTY!!!"

I love being the KING
I love hearing "DADDY!!!"
I love a being dad.

Thanks for reading
~Justin

ARE YOU READY??? For some football?

Last night my daughter (Abby) wasn't tired so she wanted to watch football with daddy. So we did! My daughter is in that stage in life that she has to know how everything works and why it is that way. So here is our conversation:

Abby: "Daddy, what are they counting for?"
Me: "Oh that is the end of the period" (i didn't want any confusion between football and money so i so didn't say quarter)
Abby: "What's a period?
Me: " There are four periods in football, period 1, 2, 3, 4 and each period has 15 minutes in it" "So there are 10 minutes left in the period. Then they will go to the 3rd period."
Abby: "What are they trying to do?"
Me: "they are trying to score" "they have to get the football in what is called the end zone, that is how you score."
Abby: "Why?"
Me: "Those are just the rules, made up since the beginning of time."
Abby: "okay"

And so we enjoyed a little father/daughter monday night football. I won't even begin to tell her how much the Buffalo Bills have broken my heart... That is a story for when she is older. Please enjoy the pictures.





And thanks for reading
~Justin

Every Princess Has Her Prince?

So on Friday night I had the pleasure of my first Daughter/Father Date Night.
I took Abby to see Disney on Ice here in Baltimore. WE had a blast.
She was so excited and really only got scared once, during the "Disney Celebrates Halloween." So I decided that we should wait out in the lobby until that scene was over. The next scene was the only true reason why she wanted to go in the first place.

Disney Celebrates Valentines Day:
All the Disney Princesses and Princes came out to do their little gig. She is really into being a princess, so this was the highlight of the night. I just enjoyed watching her eyes light up and seeing her edge forward on her seat... It ended with this little statement "Every Princess has to have a Prince"

I was reminded of what God must be like when WE receive something that we have been waiting so long for. He must love the glow in our eyes and the giggle in our voice. I think that this is what it means to have a "child like faith". My daughter has no fear of me doing something to hurt her. She has no fear of me giving her something that would harm her in anyway. She has complete faith that we (my wife and I) will take care of her. So if I am suppose to have a "child like faith"...

Why do I have a problem with showing Jesus that same faith and trust?

He hasn't ever let me down. Even when I don't get what I want. He gives me what I need!
Jesus, please help me to understand you and your ways more. Please enjoy the photos.



We are waiting for the show to start.



Every Princess has her prince...

Then when we got home.. Mommy and Abby had some dress up fun time




The next day we went out for Trick or Treating... Abby is the princess and Madi is the Lady bug!


They stole the show... SO CUTE

Thanks for reading
~Justin