Annelie wrote a beautiful poem for her dad for Father's Day. She gave me permission to post it here. Annelie has a way of writing that really touches my heart...she is such a blessing to our family. I love this picture...I took it in SanDiego a few years ago, it was the first time Annelie had seen the ocean. When I decided to post her poem I knew I had to put this picture with it...
Derron & his little girl.
The mark of a father’s presenceIs more than a bill paid
Or of shaving cream essence,
Or a pipe system made.
But is the brush of a hand
Calloused yet soft
A tear wiped away and
Comfort found oft.
A favorite toy repaired
At the bargain price
Of a tight hug shared
And a kiss once or twice.
A swing through the air
In the strong grasp
Of those arms full of care
Which to love clasp
A pat on the back for
A job well done.
But still encouraging more
When that prize not won.
A listening ear and understanding heart
For a simple world
Seemingly falling apart.
A hand to hold
When life gets rough
A story told
When tired enough.
The mark of a father’s presence
Is something I often see
Fortunate to receive these presents,
Proud, his daughter, to be.
by Annelie Hansen 2010
Do this and Joy.... your heart will swell...
And that's exactly what happened. This will always be one of my favorite experiences. It was not easy & there were situations I did not enjoy, (like sleeping on the ground under the stars while the wind blew all night) but what I gained far outweighed it all.