A Long Word from Daddy...

As I sit here typing this, Kelly is sleeping and Owen is on her chest. It is perhaps the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Life-changing events like the birth of your first child makes you reflect back on your life and how far God has brought you. I still can't believe that God brought me a wife that is the most wonderful woman I have ever met. She still makes me smile when I see her and I cannot imagine going through this life without her by my side. She is without a doubt a beautiful woman and a gift that God has blessed me with.

Now i sit here years later and feel fortunate enough to have her by my side with a new addition...Owen. It all makes me scared when I think about what God has entrusted me with: to provide for and protect my wife and son. Yet, I feel like life has prepared me for this moment. I also know that I cannot lead them without God leading me. If you ever get a chance, listen closely to the lyrics of the song "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real. It describes my prayer for my family.

I also know that in addition to my own parents, my wife and my child, God has also blessed me with an amazing extended family. My in-laws are truly a blessing and my sister-in-law, her husband and their awesome children (5 of them!) are people that I love having in my life. Speaking of the 5 kiddos, they have taught me so much about being a father and much like my own son, Owen, I would do just about anything for them. I love them and always will. Through my wife, I also have two terrific grandmothers who are the rocks of the family. Grandmothers (and great-grandmothers...aka "Greats") are perhaps God's greatest gift to any family.

And of course, there is Owen. I still marvel at the fact that God has entrusted his life to Kelly and me. I am going to raise him in such a way that he will always know God as the source of his daddy's strength and remind him of how blessed he is to be surrounded by a family that loves him. God is so good. i love Owen so much and he hasn't done anything yet. Wow! He's my son. I can imagine God saying that about me when he brought me in the world. Now, I will love my own son in much the same way that God loves me.

I guess the point of this message is that I am truly blessed and don't feel that I deserve any of it from God. But He is gracious enough and loves me enough to bless my life despite all my faults. That, in my opinion, is what makes God so great. To all my family, thank you for loving me. Please know that you are all an important part of Owen's life. I want him to grow in love with you all just like I have. To Kelly and Owen, I promise to lead you with God's strength and to love each of you with all the love that God has placed in my heart. I feel like the luckiest person in the world. Thank you, God!