True meaning of a FATHER.

With Father's Day coming up I started thinking about the true meaning of a Father. Out of curiosity I decided to googled it. First I googled:

The Definition of a father

1. The father is defined as the male parent of an offspring

Then Meaning of a father

1. A male person whose sperm unites with an egg, resulting in the conception of a child.
2. A man who adopts a child.
3. A man who raises a child.

What do you think when you hear the word Father?

For me a father is SO much more than it's definition. It's not just the name but the actions. A father is a very important role in every child's life and every child deserves to have an active father.

As a child I was always close to my dad. I never feared going to my dad with a problem. I always knew I could talk to him. Something I always remember my dad telling us kids is a family that plays together stays together. We were always doing things together as a family. Not just with my mom but with both my mom and dad. From learning to ride my first motorcycle at about 8 to learning to drive at 16, my dad was right there guiding me. Things weren't perfect but at least I always knew I was coming home to both of my parents. Even most of my friends had fathers that played an active role in their lives. So, as I got older I realized how fortunate I was to have both parents. I met several people that had grown up with no real connection with their fathers. They always talked about how growing up they always felt like something was missing. Now with kids of their own they still all have one thing in common. They are determined to ALWAYS be there for their kids NO matter what. To be the best father they can possible be.

I am extremely lucky to have married an awesome husband and father. I know that he will always be there for our kids no matter what. What's more important in life than your spouse and your children. So you might ask...what qualifies him to be an awesome father. Just ask the kids what they think.

Kayla: My dad is the best dad. He always comes to my things at school. He fixes all of our bikes and scooters and watches us ride them. He makes popcorn and lets us eat it while watching a movie with us.

James: I love my daddy because he plays games with me and watches movies with me. He reads books with me and lays with me when I'm scared. Daddy takes me outside to play and shows me how to work on things with him. He said he might get me a chiuaua one day.

Haylie: Even though she might not be able to explain to you how she feels about her daddy, her actions show more than words could explain. When Haylie wakes up in the morning the first person she looks for is her daddy. She follows daddy like his shadow all day and even helps herself to every meal he has. When her favorite show comes on daddy is right next to her singing along. She loves to go BYE BYE with daddy to see the fishies and go out to lunch. In her mind he is only her daddy!

Notice how each one of the kids said something that he does WITH THEM!

Jimmy has a special relationship with each one of our kids. He cares more about our kids than anyone could imagine. Sometimes we lay in bed and talk about how we just can't imagine life without one of our kids in it every day. After looking into the eyes of your child how could

you ever abandon them and live like they don't exist. You know statistics say that 24 million children (34 percent) live absent their biological father. Crazy HUH! And we wonder why so many kids have issues. This statistic shows why a fathers involvement is so important.

Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, and avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use, truancy, and criminal activity compared to children who have uninvolved fathers. Studies on parent-child relationships and child well being show that father love is an important factor in predicting the social, emotional, and cognitive development and functioning of children and young adults.

Jimmy,

Thank you for everything you do for our me and the kids. Every day you plant another great memory that they will always have with them. Every day you give them the courage and strength to be themselves and that no matter what you will always be there for them. And most importantly you teach them about our Heavenly Father and without him nothing is possible. I couldn't have asked for a better husband and father. XOXO

This isn't the best pictures of Jimmy with the kids. As you can see they are not all willing participants for pictures. This was taken right before we left for breakfast on Father's Day. We met up with my grandparents, mom and sisters. We ate till our stomachs were ready to explode and laughed at all the crazy people around us.

Happy Father's Day to all those great father's.

Enjoy every minute with your precious children, time doesn't go backwards. Once it's gone, it's gone!