I took this picture a while ago, during a day at the lake. I've been saving it because it reminded me so much of my childhood. It instantly told me of hot summer days at the beach, and my dad taking me out into the deep water. I remember being so cold in the water, but my dad was warm and safe.

 I am so lucky to have a husband who is such a fantastic dad. I think about it a lot, while he wrestles them, swings them too high, and the million other fun (dangerous) things he does with them. All that rough play is giving them an amazing awareness of their bodies that in turn becomes bravery (which both of my kids have in spades). 

So many kids grow up without a dad, and it's too bad that we live in a culture full of broken families. I don't mean that people should stay in unhappy marriages or anything (after all, step dads are excellent dads, just ask mine), just that I wish things were different. In a perfect world, every kid would have their dad around. 

Unfortunately it's not a perfect world, which is why I feel so lucky to have all the wonderful men in my life that I do. I love you for all that you do.

And a special thank you to my husband who is not only rocking fatherhood, but also husbandom(?). He agreed to change our entire life, and move so he's been an extra amazing man this year, with more yet to come.