I love this statue I came across a few years ago:

I love how obvious it is that those children love their Dad.

And I love the dad’s face: a little bit worried, a little overwhelmed, but strong and proud.

And I love that it is made of stone.  Because that’s how I think Dad’s are.  They are strong.  They can carry a lot of weight.  And to me, they can carry the world if they translate that strength into guided directors from above.

Oh how I love my Dad.

(Here we are when I was little…among the many amazing things my dad taught me, brushing my hair was obviously not one of them.)

He is one of the most quirky, kind, strong, forward-thinking people I know.  He does what he knows is right and doesn’t care one lick about what people think of him for that.  He was incredibly involved with raising us nine kids from the imaginative stories he would tell us to tuck us into bed each night to his money system to help us learn to save and give to the interviews he still gives.

But most of all, he taught me to do hard things.

And he taught me I could do anything I put my mind to.

And I adore him forever.

Here he is with his dad: 

How I love him too, even though I’ve never met him.  Each time I hear stories about him I feel this strong sense of what a wonderful man he is…so strong that it makes me tear up.

And here is the father of my children, and the apple of my eye:

How grateful I am for the light he is to our kids.

 How I love him.

And oh, how they do too.

Elle made this slide show for him last year.  I figure it’s not too late to share it again…

Happy Father’s Day to all those amazing Dads who’s strength is like that solid rock statue I love so much.

 Dads make a difference.

A big one.

10 Comments

  1. hi shawni!

    i just stumbled across your guest post over at rockstar diaries and came over and i have to say i am absolutely smitten with your story, your family, your faith, and your strength!

    you have such a beautiful family and such a beautiful story 🙂 i truly look forward to reading more posts!

    also, has anyone ever told you that your son looks like Andrew Garfield?

    best!

  2. This is a beautiful post. What a great video too. I don't even know your family and I had tears in my eyes. So heartfelt. Thanks for sharing.

  3. This is so awesome Shawni! I'll make sure Dad sees it tonight! He's down at the Bamboo House and I'm up at the LIghthouse with the Internet for the first time in 4 days! Kinda nice actually but I can't believe how much stuff I missed in four days! Hope you're home safe. Can't WAIT to talk!

  4. wow! your kids sure look like YOU as a little girl, esp. max and I used to think he looked like your hubby, but he looks like YOu in this pic!
    too CUTE!
    tara

  5. I LOVE that easy going 70's style you've got going on with your hair in that photo with your dad. It was So popular then. I begged and pleaded my mom to let me get it cut like that. So Jane Fonda!

    Cute post about your "dads".

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