Chapter 26: A Long Distance Father's Day [+video]

There are so many places I wish I could be right now... in California with my dad for Father's Day, in Seattle for my twin cousins' college graduation, on the ship with my husband since he's on duty today, & somewhere in another country [then again, I always want to travel, so that's nothing new].

Today made me think of the special Father-Daughter dance I got to share with my dad at my wedding [7.7.12] & whenever I watch it I get a little teary eyed all over again. With that said, below is the 3 minute video clip of our Father-Daughter dance.

My favorite parts to watch are time frames:

• 01:00-01:22 [My dad was making me laugh by dancing goofy with me. I love how he poses for the camera at the very end!]
• 01:47-02:36 [I was crying & blubbering like a whale! You can tell my dad was crying too, but I'm sure he'll tell you that he just got dust in his eye or something ;) Lol]
                      

I think Father-Daughter dances at weddings are so special, because how often do grown women really get the chance to dance with their dad? The last time I recall dancing with my dad before my wedding was as a little girl. I'm grateful to have had a Father-Daughter dance because I know not everyone gets to have one due to not being able to have a big wedding, their father passing away, never knowing their father, or not having a good relationship with their father.

A friend of mine posted something really personal & touching story on her Facebook today in regards to Father's Day & she gave me permission to share it with others. I think it's beautifully written & has such a wonderful message.

None of us are Fatherless. By Jennifer Song

In 2nd grade our class had to do a project where we made Father’s Day cards for our.. well, fathers. I remember making one mindlessly. I never really thought too much of it when I was younger. When you don’t grow up with a dad, you don’t exactly know what you’re missing. I knew mine was in Korea. I didn’t have a relationship with him - we didn’t speak on a regular basis, but he was there somewhere across the world.

As I was making this Father’s Day card, one of my classmates tried to stop me.

“You don’t have a dad.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I DO. I’m gonna send it to him!”

I remember being very upset and the next thing I knew, I was home and threw away the card into the green trash bin in the kitchen of our tiny apartment where all the rubbish went.

I lied to this classmate. I wasn’t ever going to send it, but I knew I had a dad but they just did not understand.

I didn’t quite understand either. I didn’t understand why things were the way they were and why.

This was 16 years ago.

If I could talk to my 8 year old self, I would tell her that she always had a father.. and even better than just a biological father, that she had a Heavenly Father who loves her and would do anything for her and never leave her.

I would also tell her that 16 years from now she would face the very dad that seemed extremely negligent and that she would be able to forgive him and learn to love him in her own unique way because her Heavenly Father did first.

God was the Father I always had but was hard to grasp. Even still now He is hard to grasp, but the way He’s led me so far in this life of mine fills my heart with an overwhelming amount of disbelief and peace. He’s gotten me this far despite the odds against me and He’s been chipping away at the nonsense and molding me to be who He ultimately wants me to be.

I would also tell her that she was right about believing that one day she would have a loving husband who would one day be a great father to her own children. I will let her know that she would be able to trust that marriage is something possible for her regardless of all the failed relationships and failed marriages she was surrounded by because she wouldn’t base all her trust & hopes in humans, but in her Lord.

I know that some of you may not have a relationship with your dad as much as you wish you did, or have had the chance to ever get to know them - but the most important thing is to know that none of us are fatherless.

Happy Father's Day

In closing...

My Dad is a friend to everyone he meets. He would laugh during the 'scary' parts of movies so that I wouldn't get too scared when I was a kid [he becomes a comedian]. He always takes time out of his busy day to help his daughters in any way he can—whether it be a car problem [he becomes a mechanic], helping find something that we misplaced in the house [he becomes a detective] or fixing up something for us to eat whenever we got hungry [he becomes a chef], etc..

That's my dad. && I'm blessed to have him. Sending a daughters love from the East Coast to the West Coast! Wish I could be there to celebrate with you. Happy Fathers Day, from your daughter & son-in-law! 

I also have to send love & father's day wishes to: my father-in-law, my grandpas/grandpa in-laws, my Uncles who are fathers, & EVERY father & father-to-be! Your love is needed in this world ♥

What is one special memory you have with your dad?! Share it with him today because I'm sure he'd love to hear it & feel free to share it in a comment below!