Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all those proud new daddy's that have adopted their precious angels!!

In one week we will be leaving for Ukraine to adopt our beautiful girls! The past year has gone by so fast! Not only do I celebrate Father's Day for Mark but I celebrate it in remembrance of my father!

If it wasn't for my father coming to know Christ I may not be on this journey today! My father was a very militant man. He could have easily been compared to Archie Bunker and Hitler!! I never had a close relationship with him growing up. I actually feared him. But, Today I recall the sweet moments of my daddy. I remember going to the lake, either Benbrook or Lake Worth, a lot as a child. I would climb up on my dad's shoulders and jump off. There was a huge slide (at least 20 ft high) at Lake Worth that I just had to go down; I was only 8. At the end of the slide even my 6'1 father could not reach the bottom. My mom was freaked out that my dad was letting me go down it. My older brother had to follow me up the ladder. Down I went and plunged well below my father. He reached down deep and caught my hair and pulled me up. He than put me on his back and swam to shore. He seemed so proud of me that day. Because of these memories of the lake, I still have the swim trunks he wore.

Other precious moments with my dad were when both of my children were born. He cried the day my second, Christen, was born. One, because he wanted a beautiful red haired baby grand daughter and two, he knew his time with her and our son, Anthony, would be short. His favorite place to be was sitting on the front porch swing with his large glass of iced tea and his two sweet grand children beside him. I often wonder what kind of infuence he would have been on my children and how much he would have adored Anya and Tanya.

All these sweet memories, but, the sweetest one is when my father accepted Christ as his Saviour. All the years of fearing him were stripped away. Such beautiful peace came from my daddy. I had no knowledge of who Jesus was let alone what He did for me on the cross. But watching my father change into a wonderful Christian man painted the picture of Christ beautifully. Because of my father's testimony, I too, accepted Christ at age 21. I was baptised 3 days before my first child was born! Because of my father surrendering to our Lord, I was a life that was changed. I am so very thankful to God for healing me and showing me how to love like He loves. I am truly humbled that God has chosen Mark and I to parent these beautiful girls. I am thankful for my life and I am thankful to my daddy for showing me Jesus! I love you daddy and I miss you.
~Phyllis