It’s a banner day when I have all my kids under one roof, so today was an epic win in that department. Only problem was, I didn’t realize until I was editing the “official Father’s Day photo of the day” that my eldest was missing from the pic! Because chaos, is what. She made it into the cake pics for Alyssa’s birthday, though, so it wasn’t a total loss – and Emilio was here, so that’s probably why I didn’t notice – it still felt like the right number of people!
I love the shirt Laurent gave her dad – The BEST DADS get promoted to GRANDPA. He also got a new ranch chair to replace the one that finally wore out, and some new hot dog cookers that are actually long enough so we wont burn our hands while cooking round the campfire.
Alyssa finished off her birthday celebration with more Star Wars loot – a light-saber night light and a Star Wars bedspread, and big brother Mark brought over water balloons and a big slime kit which everyone took out front to make a mess.
It was a good day with my people. I love them all, especially my beloved. I try to keep up to date with my gratitude because it just piles up so high if I let that slide and I can never, ever catch up. He’s my constant, in every way. Raising a family is labor-intensive, there’s no way around that. We were talking just yesterday about what it is that keeps us going, what fuels our marriage. It’s that we have always, from the beginning, felt unified in a mission and purpose beyond just our feelings for each other, and whatever God was calling us to, it was a team effort. The mission has morphed over the years, but that unity has remained and grown more solid with age and experience and confidence in one another. There’s been testing of that “or worse” part of our vows, and I’m pretty sure I’m the one who’s been the test, but Paul is so faithful to me and our family and our mission. It’s no exaggeration to say I’d be lost without him. I’m eternally grateful to God for the man who is father to all the children God has given us, spiritual leader of our home, and my partner in life.
Happy Father’s Day, honey!!
Pauline Holston
16 Jun 2019Great pics! Love that shirt Paul’s wearing, too!