Entry for August 24, 2007 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTIEN!!!!

Mi Hijo,

It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since your mother and I were in RI Hospital that blessed Sunday night. Your name was chosen before you were born, but given when you were born, the Lord definitely had a plan for you. Christien, I hope one day you'll know just how much I wished I could be there to celebrate each and every birthday that you have had. The Good Lord has been working miracles in my life, and he has been answering my prayers, so I know you are safe and healthy, because I have always asked him to watch over you.

I have been planning for this day for a while now, querido hijo. I found the following letter through one of my 360 friends (I can't remember which one, sorry). It is a love letter from God. He is always there for us Christien, more than we ever realize. Afterward, I also have a song for you. As soon as I first heard, it made me think of you.

1)

Father's Love Letter

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 J
ohn 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is���Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.

Almighty God

PERMISSION TO COPY:
The printed version of Father's Love Letter can be copied and used for free distribution providing the following copyright information is displayed... 'Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2006 www.FathersLoveLetter.com'

2)

"MY Wish" by Rascal Flatts

Dios te bendiga, mi hijo. May your birthday be a happy and joyous one. Pepe called me to make sure I passed his Birthday Greetings to you as well from him and your uncle Jorge. Aaron still misses you and also prays to see you soon. I love you, son.

If anyone else is reading this and wishes to post your own Birthday Greetings for Christien, please do so in the comments section. Thank you and God bless.

Entry for August 23, 2007 - "I Wish You Enough"

This is another "Something to Hang Your Hat On". I first heard this riding home from work, and I started thinking about my parents and about my sons, and it brought tears to my eyes. It was part of an email a listener, Dori Davis, sent the show. Without going into detail, this listener has had a lot of tragedy befall her, and this story put her a little more at ease. Apparently, her sister had emailed the story to her, and she decided to share it with the world. I hope it impacts you as well:

"Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough".

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom".

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?".

Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?".

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?".

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. "When we said , 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away."

Christien, I love you, I miss you, and I wish you....enough.

Entry for August 22, 2007Random wierd thoughts with a tearjerker story.

It's been a while, so here are some random thoughts:

1. Reality is just something that gets in the way of your dreams.

2. Psalm 56

3. The US has decided to drop out of the world testing of math and science for children. So much for "No Child Left Behind".

4. The Sox and the Pats still worry me.

5. If you're going to go the speed limit, stay out of the left-hand lane!

6. My father is now officially eligible for Social Security- proof that time marches on for all heroes.

7. The older I am getting, the less likely that I will go skydiving, bungee jumping, or to Las Vegas.

8. Find a job you love, you'll never work another day in your life. Find a job that is work, be thankful that you have it.

9. Slacker.com is awesome. If you haven't tried it, you will like it.

10. I still miss Christien.

Two days until its your birthday. I hope a nice birthday party is planned. I had really hoped to be able to wish Happy Birthday either in person or on the phone, mi hijo, but God has other plans. I trust Him completely, and you must too, Christien. I ask him every night to make sure whichever angel He has protecting you gives you a hug and a kiss from me. I hope you feel them. Dios te bendiga mi hijo. I hope you learn from the story below.

There are these DJs on a country station that do a segment called "Something to Hang your Hat On", and the one from yesterday was touching and thought provoking. Given what has been going on lately with Michael Vick, this story seemed especially poignant. There is no author on it, so I don't know who to credit, but I hope everyone enjoys it and gives me some feedback on it.

THE PURPOSE OF A DOG FROM A FOUR YEAR OLD
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his

wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to

perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought

it would be good for the four-year old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from

the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so

calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes,

Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We

sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human

lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his

mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how

to live a good life - - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs

already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care, and a DOG or Cat to LOVE along the way!

Entry for August 02, 2007 - 11 Smartest Things Ever Said About Fatherhood

I found this as I was reading some articles at work. I thought it was a great list so I wanted to share it. All credit goes to Tia Albright, who Compiled this for Men's Health:

"1. "It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping." -John Sinor

2. "They don't grade fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper, you f—ked up!" -Chris Rock

3. "Sherman made the terrible discovery that men make about their fathers sooner or later... that the man before him was not an aging father but a boy, a boy much like himself, a boy who grew up and had a child of his own and, as best he could... adopted a role called 'Being a Father' so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a Protector, who would keep a lid on all the chaotic and catastrophic possibilities of life." -Tom Wolfe, The Bonfire of the Vanities

4. "Whatever you are, be a good one." -Abraham Lincoln

5. "My mother protected me from the world, and my father threatened me with it." -Quentin Crisp

6. "There must be many fathers around the country who have experienced the cruelest, most crushing rejection of all: Their children have ended up supporting the wrong team." -Nick Hornby

7. "My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, 'You're tearing up the grass.' 'We're not raising grass,' Dad would reply. 'We're raising boys.' " -Harmon Killebrew

8. "You don't put kids under surveillance: It might frighten you. Parents should sit tall in the saddle and look upon their troops with a noble and benevolent and extremely nearsighted gaze." -Garrison Keillor

9. "A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man." -Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather

10. "When I was a boy of 14 my father was so ignorant that I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in only 7 years." -Mark Twain

11. "Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express." -Joseph Addison"

Have you ever heard any good Fatherhood quotes? Post them in the comments.

Que Dios te bendiga Christien. I hope you still feel my love, mi hijo.