here's to the most

yesterday was my poppi's birthday. that is the nickname that i call my father-in-law, and i secretly hope that are kids (when we have them someday) will call him that too.

and we (me and Christopher) both from the bottom of our hearts wished we could have been in colorado, to be there with him, to hug him, and sing at the top of our lungs 'happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear poppi/daddy, happy birthday to you'

my poppi is the most. that is the best way that i can describe him, as the most. he is the most loving. he is the most giving. he is the most humble. he is the most passionate. he is the most funniest. he really is the kind of dad i would have wanted growing up and sometimes wished that i had. and now in a way, he is. and i can't wait for my 'someday kids' to get to meet and know him as their  poppi. i am so thankful that my husband has these most characteristics in him as well from being raised by such a wonderful father.

at my wedding, he danced with me for the father/daughter dance, and there were so many things that i wanted to say and just couldn't, all i could do was rest my head on his shoulder and cry.


since i couldn't be there to tell you in person how lucky i am to have a father like you, i decided to write you this letter. so here it is and my poor attempt of making words from the gratitude i feel deep in my heart.

Dear Poppi,
1.thank you for teaching me how to fish
2.thank you for teaching me how to remove the bones from my freshly caught - freshly grilled fish
3.thank you for taking me snowboarding
4.thank you for not getting upset with me when i was done snowboarding after one run because i was nervous
5. thank you for hiking with me
6.thank you letting me drive the jeep and not getting upset with me when i hit the small pole while reversing
7.thank you for letting me drive that yellow corvette, i will never forget jumping in it and making the alarm go off while you were working inside, and you had to come out and turn it off for me
8.thank you for letting me come on family vacation with you to Canada
9.thank you for singing a capella at our wedding
10.thank you for being christopher's best man
11.thank you for driving all the way to our cake decorator's house to give her our cake topper
12.thank you for picking up a needle and thread to fix my wedding dress before the ceremony
13.thank you for for dancing with me to 'father of the fatherless'
14.thank you for being so generous for our wedding
15.thank you for our honeymoon to St.Thomas
16.thank you for believing in me
17.thank you for telling me that you are proud of me
18.thank you for being such a wonderful dad to Christopher (and Paige and Stacey)
19.thank you for being such a loving husband to Nancy
20.thank you for being an example to me, i am learning so much as to what a husband and father are and ought to be by watching you
21.thank you for having compassion on orphans and widows
22.thank you for being a true worshiper and follower
23.thank you for telling me the old man bunger story and please please please tell it to my children one day
24.thank you for doing kobe steak night and talking in an accent while you cook
25.thank you for being goofy
26.thank you for buying our first bed
27.thank you for letting me pop your big back bubble
28.thank you for letting me mess up your hair
29.thank you for giving to us in our times of need
30.thank you for leading a life of true repentance
31.thank you for being a man of true humility
32.thank you for being merciful, not only to me, but to others as well
33.thank you for reading the bill after eating dinner, and asking who ate this or drank that - the funny way that you do, and then we all say 'thank you daddy dear'
34.thank you for always saying 'ehhhhh'
35.thank you for sticking to your commitment of not drinking for a whole year - even if it is hard
36.thank you for having snowball fights with us
37.thank you for being supportive of our decisions even if you don't agree with them or even understand them
38.thank you for your willing heart
39.thank you for starting River Runs for Orphans
40.thank you for inviting me, and paying for me to go to India and serve the orphanage with you
41.thank you for using your gift of generosity that God has given you to make my dream and longing come alive
42.thank you for Pria, my heart already loves her so much
43.thank you for all of the other children that you have given each of us to sponsor (and who we will get to meet once we are in India)
44.thank you for singing, 'healing rain' in India
45.thank you for trusting in the Lord
46.thank you for Jehu, christopher's car
47.thank you for wanting to be grandpa
48.thank you for always putting your family first and making sacrifices for their behalf
49.thank you for being the dad that i never had

and one to grow on, from both me and Christopher:

50.thank you for driving all the way to California to show Stacey unconditional love, and to show us what Christ's love is like for each of us

love,
meg