Friday: A Father's Day Post

Father's Day is this Sunday and I am planning to spend the day with my girl.  She is celebrating with her Daddy the day before at the beach!

I will see my Dad at some point this weekend though and at that time, will shower him with homemade gifts from Violet.  Those are the best kind of gifts anyway.

My Dad and I haven't been close in a long while now.  It is really too bad but it is what it is.  I hope that someday when he is older, more forgiving and slightly more senile, we will become pals again.  I really miss him.  He was the best Dad EVER when I was growing up.  Spoiled me rotten, let me watch scary movies at an alarmingly early age, let me eat way too much candy and let me open my gifts on Christmas Eve.  He did anything and everything to make me laugh.  He helped to shape my unique sense of humor.  He used to be one of my best friends and I love him very much.  He also gave me the best gift of my entire life!  That being my Grandmother.  She was more than just a family member, she was THE most important person to grace my life.  My Dad made sure that my relationship with her was a major part of my childhood.  For that, I am forever indebted and grateful to him.

The generations right after V-spot was hatched.

Visiting at the Nursing Home years ago.

I know a lot of kick ass Dads.  They are awesome and do an amazing job.  I wish them so much happiness this weekend and throughout.

I read something the other day on my friend's blog that made me cry, it was beautiful and sweet.  THIS is a kick-ass Dad!! I am honored to share it here: From Kala and Scott's Journey Through the Parental Unknown!

Father's Day Story!!

This guest post is by Scott Phelps, an adoptive father. It is part of A Dad’s Devotion, a month-long series of original stories related to adoption, fatherhood and Father’s Day.

It was a Wednesday afternoon in Tucson, Arizona and my wife, Kala, was up in Prescott Valley taking our son’s birthmother “A” to a doctor’s appointment.

My wife and I were very fortunate to have gotten to know “A” and develop a relationship with her. All day I had been thinking about our pending arrival and something told me I needed to leave work early.

I got home around 4:30 and called Kala to see how it was going. She informed me that she had just dropped off “A” at home and was heading south to come home. She said that the appointment went well and that Zarek should be born sometime over the upcoming weekend. That news made me so happy and excited.

I was home long enough to change clothes when Kala called me back to tell me that the birthmother called to ask if she could take her to the hospital. I needed to grab our pre-packed bags and get to Prescott Valley as soon as possible. It was a four-hour drive, so I figured that I would have plenty of time before Zarek’s birth. Boy was I wrong!

I loaded up the car and headed across town to get on the highway north. I didn’t even get halfway to the highway when my phone rang again. It was Kala telling me “He’s here!”

“What do you mean, ‘He’s here’?, I asked her.

It turns out that my wife and the birthmother didn’t make it to the hospital. Kala had to call 911 and pull off to the side of the road. She put the car in park, grabbed a blanket on the way around the car and got to the passenger’s seat just in time to deliver Zarek.

Yes, my wife delivered our son at mile marker 321. The ambulance and a fire truck showed up a few minutes later and transferred the birthmother and Zarek to the hospital where everyone checked out OK. The firemen were nice enough to open up the water valve on the truck so she could clean up before she followed the ambulance to the hospital.

In the meantime, I am driving like an escaped con to get up to Prescott Valley. A trip that normally took us four hours, I made it in three. I did cheat a little and drive in the car pool lane going through Phoenix. I just couldn’t wait to see Zarek!

I got to the hospital to find the birthmother and Kala all smiles. Zarek was asleep in the incubator. I didn’t hesitate to pick him up to hold him. My heart exploded with joy! I had become a proud father! I get to re-live that joy every day when I hold Zarek and he gives me that beautiful smile.

Looking back on how it all happened, it is still hard to believe. My wife delivered our son in the front seat of our car! How often does that happen? Simply put, it was meant to be!

Happy Father's Day to all!!