A daddy woke up in the middle of the night, calmed fears and changed diapers. A daddy woke up early, checked on sleeping babies,
went to work in an office filled with their pictures so they would have what they needed.
A daddy didn't want a Saturday hobby that took him away from Luke, Hope, and James. He gave them more than a home and food. He gave them time. A daddy looked forward to seeing them at night
and on the weekends. He took them to
Sunday worship and served in the nursery when it was his turn. A daddy prayed for and with them.
A daddy didn't go to the gym in the morning. He woke kids up, took them to school and
wished them a good day. A daddy called their
mom and asked about their day AND grades, of course, but only because he worried
and wanted them to do well. He wanted them
to do their best. He rescheduled meetings
to attend Donuts for Dad and Award's Day. A daddy went to both nights of the dance
recital and scheduled daddy/daughter dates.
A daddy took them to the movies. He played games and gave them a puppy. A
daddy took them to Chick-fil-a for breakfast. He sat on the bleachers for
hours after work. A daddy recorded every concert. He called Mom months in advance
and asked, "Do the kids have anything on February 2, 2017?" A daddy
wouldn't schedule anything if there's a concert or ballgame.
A daddy considered where Luke, Hope, and James wanted to
vacation. Where will they have the most
fun? Individually, what do each of them want to do when we're there? A daddy
made sure they experienced their favorites.
He dug in the sand, played miniature golf, waited in lines, bought ice
cream, and pushed a stroller. A hot, tired
daddy carried sleeping kids back to the room. 
A dad takes them shopping for Mother's Day, Christmas, and
Mom's birthday. He takes days off to
move them into college and misses them when they're gone. He calls or texts every day. With a Clemson University
degree, a dad writes a check to the University of South Carolina and wears
garnet to the ballgame while his heart is orange. A Tiger spends all day in Columbia to catch a
glimpse of his Gamecock in a band uniform.
A daddy's love is unforgettable. A daddy gives time. A daddy
is patient. A daddy teaches. He wants them to know God and appreciate His
church. He does what is right but loves
and forgives them when they don't and apologizes when he doesn't.
Luke says, "He
has a true sense of integrity."
Being a daddy's girl, Hope sums up David perfectly, "He's able to come home and
leave his stress at work and not make that come in the way of our family
time. And he always finds a way
to make us laugh. And he's probably the most patient man I've met when it comes
to our family :-) He always goes
out of his way at night to say goodnight to me, sends me a "have a good
day" text every day and goes above and beyond to make sure we get what we
need and maybe a little extra."
And leave it to James for brutal honesty, "I
know I act like a jerk sometimes, but I know I could never appreciate all the
work he has done for this family. And I know he'll forgive me because he's my
dad and he loves me."
"Direct your children onto the right path, and
when they are older, they will not leave it." Proverbs 22:6
When I prayed for a spouse, I prayed for a man who loved
kids and would be a good daddy, a good role model, and direct their path to
God. God gave me what I prayed for and
more. He gave me a man who loves his
children more than himself. God provided a daddy whose devotion goes beyond the
expected. David gives them time, and
from him, my children learn patience, sacrificial love, and the right path.
Katy, Luke, Hope, and James
