Dad's Surprise 60th Birthday Cruise!!!

For the past 7 months, my mom had been preparing a cruise to the Bahamas for my dad's sixtieth birthday. It was really a double surprise for my dad- he found out we were going to the Bahamas when we showed up at the dock by the huge ships. Then a few hours later we were going to a "welcoming session" on the cruise where some of my family's closest friends from all over the map gathered to surprise him! We all had an awesome week spending time with each other. It was great for my family's friends to all meet each other and be able to put names to faces. Having everyone together really reminded me that we are blessed with some of the greatest friends in the world, andthat was only a small part of them! The only family we missed were Andrew and Jen who couldn't make it because their twins Rory and Bri were too little.... by about a week! :( But we still had an amazing time and were thankful for those who could make it. My dad was so surprised by all of it!

Dad and his brothers- older brother John and younger brother Tom

Nassau- Going to Atlantis!

Snorkeling at Great Stirrup Cay Island!

The last night of the trip, everyone gathered in my parent's suite to share a few words about Dad. Do we have some encouraging friends! Every word that our dear friends shared about him that night was so true and not only was it a blessing for my dad to hear, but also for the rest of us. Several people shared Scripture that reminded them of Dad, and each one was different yet so true about him. To all of my dad's friends, whether you were there for his sixtith or not- I'm so thankful for you!

Here are a few qualities of my dad that I'm really grateful for:

- My dad is the picture of calm in the midst of chaos. With nine children (currently ten with our foster son) six grandchildren, and his busy life that he has to manage which has him all over the map on a regular basis, he somehow keeps his calm, even when others around him freak out, he has a way of staying peaceful, being a constant example of how God desires us to live.

"Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace." -Psalm 37:37

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:1

- My dad's patience is amazing. When it should be so easy to lose patience with so many things going on at once, he is an example patience whether it's with nagging and bickering little kids, frustrating older kids, or any other number of circumstances and people that life brings him. I lose my patience in a flash, and this is something that I'm really trying to work on! I'm thankful that I have Dad's example to look to.

"Love is patient, love is kind...." -1 Corinthians 13:4

- The grace that my dad has is something that I'm always encouraged by. When I'm scared to tell him something, I always realize after the fact that I shouldn't have been. Instead of being angry at me when he so easily could be at times, he thanks me for coming to him and encourages me in ways that we can solve the situation. What a Christ-like example that is for me to see. It encourages me to keep moving forward, and to show grace to others.

"It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace....." -Hebrews 13:9

"But He gives us more grace. That is why the Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" - James 4:6

- I never hear my dad complain. No matter how much he is wronged, he keeps graciously moving forward. The most profound time when I saw this quality in him was three years ago (but I didn't fully realize it until much more recently) when he was paralyzed and had to re-gain all of his leg strength and learn to walk again, which was a long and hard journey. Not once did I see him go to "why me?" After all, my dad is a hard-working man who is always looking out for the best of others and has active children and grandchildren and desires to be a part of their lives. He was the last person in my opinion who should've been "punished" with this trial. But looking back on the situation, I see God's purpose in it. My dad can walk better now than he could've before the injury. He was a living example to all of us to never complain but to keep you head up with a positive attitude because God has a plan, even if we can't see it. When I broke my ankle eight months ago, something so minor in comparison, I was constantly able to look at my dad's example when I just felt like complaining at its inconvenience.

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation'..." - Philippians 2:14-15

-Dad always puts the needs of others before himself. He joyfully serves those around him without ever thinking what he wants or will make him the happiest. He could have chosen to live an easy and carefree life, but he and my mom chose to pour their lives into us (their kids) and everyone else God has placed in their lives. When it's easier to just say no, Dad chooses to take the harder path because he's not looking to satisfy what he wants, but rather how he can help those whom God has put in his life. He sees the bigger picture. He's storing his treasures in heaven. He gets it. My dad really gets it.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." - Romans 12:10

Happy 60th Dad. May God bless to with many more years to be a light and encouragement in the darkness.