thank you dads

harley had to work yesterday morning so the kids and i decided we'd surprise him at work with donuts for him and his co-workers. sshhhhhhhhhh.



this young man is amazing and avery sure thinks so as well. he's going to make an amazing dad one day.



i am not too proud to admit that there are a lot of things i simply did not understand or could not understand until i became a parent myself. i thought i knew/understood a lot and there have been many times that i have judged (gasp) and  had to open my mouth and insert my foot. you see, at times growing up i judged other parents saying things like 'i can't believe they did that.' or  'i will never do that with my kids.'...and here i am six years later as a parent and i'm getting it now. kids will bring things out in you you never thought possible. trust me.... is that necessarily a bad thing? i don't think so. our children teach us so much about ourselves as we in turn are teaching them about the world.
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i'm grateful for the men in my life that have been such active parents in their kids lives. whether it was years down the road or right from the beginning at some point they stepped up and took on the sacred role of parenting.  being a parent is the toughest job harley and i have ever had hands down. i'm amazed at the way harley handles the kids when i simply feel i'm at the end of my rope after a tough day with them. parenting isn't for sissies and will either make or break you.

'the most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home.'-harold b. lee

i love this quote. it's so true. it is ultimately up to us as parents to teach our children and we get to choose how we do this important work.

here's to all the parents that are doing it on their own. my hat is off to you.

happy father's day.

listen to neil young: old man