I remember when your mom was pregnant the third time around. People would ask, “Do you want a boy this time ?” I’d think to myself….”Why, what’s wrong with 3 little girls? 
Of all the kids, I would say your personality is the closest to that of your mom’s…soft spoken, easy to get along with, gentle, it takes a lot to get you ticked off.
God has gifted you in so many ways.
You love to sing. I can still remember the night you got up at the coffee house spontaneously with your guitar teacher and sang “Landslide” You were wearing a leather trench coat. Mom and I were sitting in the middle of the audience. I glanced around, more than one young man was smitten that night .
When I meet someone with a song on their lips that tells me a lot about the person…it speaks of inner joy.
Your laughter…it is infectious! More than once, someone has told you, you laugh too much. I want to tell them…BS (baloney stuff) I wish more people laughed as much as you do..the world would be a better place.
You love animals. I can still hear the bleating of those orphan lambs in our basement in the middle of the night. You said you wanted them, so guess who got to get up in the middle of the night to feed “Mary” and Bo-Peep”.
You’re brave. You remind me of a little duck swimming away from shore, determined to make it on it’s own. I as the papa duck, know there are snapping turtles in our pond who would love nothing more than some fresh baby duck…I was so touched that time you wrote mom and I a letter telling us how you didn’t want to disappoint us, but really needed to have the freedom to make your own decisions..even if you made some mistakes in the process….just watch out for those turtles OK? ;-)
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I’ll close with this:
Dear Rebekah,
There’s a song on the radio right now where the dad is talking about his two little babies…one is 20 something, and the other is 33. When I hear that song, I think of you.
I was married when I was your age…but I still see that little girl standing in front of me sucking on her “ni-nite”.
Thank you for accepting me as your friend on Facebook! I promise I don’t snoop
You got the nickname Pinky” after that little pink doll you used to tote around. I think you’ll always be my little “Pinky”.
I love you! Dad
Tags: family
July 24, 2008 at 8:11 pm |
You have a beautiful family, and you really are an awesome dad… thank you so much for sharing your testaments to your lovely daughters…..
July 24, 2008 at 9:03 pm |
Doug, how i would give anything to have the kind of relationship you have with your daughters. A real father in my life. Wow. Your writing about them brings tears to my eyes, and a longing in my soul for something I will never have for my own.
July 24, 2008 at 9:48 pm |
“Landslide” is one of my favorite songs of all time. I love these letters to your beautiful daughters.
July 25, 2008 at 12:55 am |
Each time I find tears in my eyes, you are making me a soppy one hmph – It is the one thing I have missed the most in my life, having a father. Your children are more lucky than they can ever imagine! Thank you for sharing these, they really do warm my heart!
July 25, 2008 at 5:49 am |
It says a lot that your daughter is comfortable enough in your relationship to write that kind of letter to you. It says even more that you and her mom allowed her the freedom to make her choices.
July 25, 2008 at 5:16 pm |
I’ve been catching myself calling Addy, “Bekah” a lot lately. I think they are both bubbly and have an ever ready song on their lips. :0)
I will forever call my little sister, “Pinky”….even When I’m 90 and she’s 84 :0P
July 26, 2008 at 2:30 am |
you are really a great father…i think your children where lucky to have you as their father…