Month: April 2023

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Dear Jack: You Got to Sit in a Real Corvette for the 1st Time

12 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

On Saturday morning, Nonna and Papa took you to a monthly car show that just happens to take place a mile away from our house. It’s actually surprising we had never taken you there, considering your recent new obsession with cars.

While you definitely enjoyed getting to see all the fancy classic cars there, I suppose your favorite part was when the owner of a new Corvette let you sit in the driver’s seat!

I’m pretty sure our family will now be making our way to that car show from now on each month…

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Doing Chores to Earn Souvenirs?

7 years old.

Dear Holly,

Last week while Mommy and I were on vacation in Michigan, Nonna and Papa came up to take care of you and your brother.

While I definitely received many pictures of you playing and having fun, I also got this photo of you helping clean the house.

I am so grateful that you recognize the importance of contributing to chores; especially that you perceive it as fun, to some degree.

Of course, you knew good and well that Mommy and I would be bringing you souvenirs from Traverse City…

So I guess you earned them!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter on Her 7th Birthday

7 years old today!

Dear Holly,

Thinking back to seven years ago on the day you were born and how I imagined you would be as a little girl, I would say my predictions were spot on.

You are so joyful, so adventurous, and so sweet.

After all, your middle name is Joy, and you have definitely lived up to that name!

I am actively reminding myself now that my youngest child is 7 years old, this is basically the last call for certain things a kid will do in my house.

Like last week when you turned a shipping box in to a car, using your imagination.

I cherish every moment I have with you. I celebrate your childhood. I don’t take having a beautiful young daughter for granted.

Hapy 7th Birthday!

I love you so much!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: The Power Sander You Invented for Rebuilding Hot Wheels

12 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

Last Friday night, Mommy went to Nashville with her friend Cheryl to see Lady A in concert. That meant that it was just you, me, and your sister.

After dinner, while I was getting your sister ready for bed, I didn’t see you or hear you around anywhere. I just assummed you where outisde in the cul-de-sac playing with the neighbors.

At 7:55 PM, I opened up the door leading to the garage and found you working on your cars:

Disassembling them to rebuild them.

“Look, Daddy, I built a power sander!” You showed me how you took a pencil and attached it to your power drill, using the eraser side to sand the new paint job you gave your Hot Wheels.

In the course of me writing my Enneagram book this year, I finally came to the realization you are truly an Enneagram 5 with a 4 wing:

The wacky inventor! 

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: The Car You Created from a Box

6 years, 11 months.

Dear Holly,

This past week we ordered an indoor grill. It made me realize, “I still have a child who is young enough to appreciate playing with a box.”

Without ever making an announcement nor asking anyone’s permission, you took it upon yourself to turn that shipping box into a car. I noticed it had three pedals on the floor, implying it’s a manual transmission like my Jeep.

You also proudly brought to my attention that on the inside of the car door, you drew a stethoscope; which I suppose was intended to be a more grandiose first aid kit than the one in my Jeep I keep with me.

It was a very relevant choice for you to build your car from the box.

Even now as I type this, you are sitting down in your box playing, while Mommy drinks her coffee on Sunday afternoon after church.

 

Love,

Daddy