Best Fathers' Day Gift Ever

Fathers' Day is approaching and I've been busy getting a few things together for the boys to give Luke for Fathers' Day. It's kind of fun picking out presents for him since the boys are far to little to do it. I always have them make him something special too, something that's just from them. Fathers' Day however is bittersweet for me. I love celebrating my sweet husband and the amazing Father he is to our boys. It has a sad twinge to it also though, last year was the first Fathers' Day that I spent without my own Father.

It honestly was no more sad for me than any other day without him is. I mourn the loss of him a little everyday still. I did however spend time recalling his last Fathers' Day.

We rarely make it "home" for holidays. As a pastor and pastors family Luke and I knew from the get go that we would visit our parents on holiday-ish times of the year, but not on the actually holidays. Pastors play an important role in their churches and it is necessary for them to be around on the holidays for their church family.  Any holiday that happens to fall on a weekend we know for sure we won't make it to. We have become increasingly good at celebrating Thanksgivings, Easters, Christmases, etc. just the 4 of us; and we've grown to like it.

Fathers' Day 2010 however was an exception. It started off like all other holidays. I mailed my dad his gift on about Wednesday of that week. We got up and got ready to go to church that Fathers' Day morning and Luke gave a great sermon. When it was all over though, Luke unexpectedly suggested we drive across the state to see my dad. It was just after noon (11 am in my parents time zone) and the 5 and a half hour drive would have us arriving at around dinner time so I said, "sure." We threw some clothes in a suitcase, found some things to keep Joshua entertained in the car and took off.

I called my mom from the road and to say she was thrilled would be a huge understatement. Joshua was at this time the only grandchild. My mom and dad were obsessed with Joshua and she knew dad would be excited to see him.....and me.

This trip was SO unusual and out of the blue. Luke had to be back to work on Tuesday so we were going to have to make it a turn around trip and leave right away the next morning which would only give us the night to spend with my family. Normally if we couldn't stay longer than a day we wouldn't consider the trip, but this time we'd only have a half day and we still went.

It was perfect. I can't even remember the whole trip, but I remember my parents had bought a kiddie pool and Joshua splashed around in it while we sat outside and watched him. I remember my mom and dad smiling a lot and loving being with their grandson. I remember my dad and Luke chatting and laughing and my dad talking about how excited he was that our kiddo-on-the-way was a boy too.

The part I remember the most vividly was when it was time to leave. It was getting late-ish and Joshua needed to get to bed. We were saying our goodbyes since Luke and I needed to leave early the next day. I gave my dad a hug around the neck and he said, "This was the best present you could ever have gotten me, Thank you so much for coming, you don't know what it means to have my family here." I was so taken back I got a little choked up right then and there, but joked it off by mentioning how short the visit was and that I'd be back in a few weeks with Joshua for a longer visit. I made light of the situation, kissed him on the cheek and we left.

That was his last Fathers' Day, and he told many times between that June and December how much that trip had meant to him, and how those few hours had been so enjoyable. I know it was truly a gift from God. It was so short a trip Luke and I would never have made it, on a holiday that we always just "sent a card for." Yet somehow that afternoon, we just went. That Fathers' Day holds the most special place in my heart. Not a sad place that makes my cry, but a comforting place that makes me smile. Knowing that I'll spend every Fathers' Day from here on without my dad - I couldn't have wished for a better memory to have to hold onto until I see him again.