to the father of my children.

Thirty years ago, when I went on my first date with "Mr.  Blue Eyes", it wasn't his silver camaro, or his redwing work boots,  or his much- in- need- of- update- wardrobe that won me over.  It was the light in his eyes as he spoke about his nieces. 

I knew I needed someone that loved children.  Someone that would hear "it's a girl"  three times, and jump for joy each time.  Someone that would get up and bring the squalling- with- hunger- child to me to nurse at 4 a.m.  Someone that would drink "tea" from plastic cups filled with bathroom tap water and act like he was with the queen.  Someone that would know how to change poopie diapers, clean up vomit, and never complain when doing it.  Someone that would go to choir concerts, track meets, school plays, little league, soccer, basketball games, be supportive and encouraging...  even if his child wasn't the best.  Someone who would stay up late waiting for the daughter that didn't come home at curfew, and then make sure she realized there were consequences.  Someone that wasn't afraid to tell his girls "I am sorry" when he blew it.  Someone that would weep over the sick child being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.  Someone that wasn't afraid to cry out to God for wisdom.  Someone who would pray daily for the men he would someday call his sons-in-law.  Someone that loved stepping in as surrogate father to the sons of the brother called home to Jesus.

I needed someone who was willing to take a job that let him "be there" for his girls. A job that didn't give lots of status, or climbs to great heights on a corporate ladder.  A job that allowed him to be at home each night for tucking 3 girls in after the popcorn snack.  A job that would help with the morning school rush when mom was already at clinicals.

No, his name will probably not be on the side of a building, nor on a book jacket.  There will not be a lot of degrees to his name.  But, what he has done for my children is worth far more.  He has taught  how to love with grace, work hard, and to serve others with joy.  He was exactly what I needed for a life-partner and what my children needed in a dad.

Now, wiatching Kent with our "fab five" ,  I fall in love all over again.