Happy Father's Day!

We're a little sad today because Bryan is out of the country (yes, the country) on business, so he cannot spend his first Father's Day with Ben. But we know that he is okay - he called this morning to say he'd arrived safely in Brescia, Italy, where he'll spend the next week working - so that is a relief.

Bryan is such a good dad to Benjamin. When he comes home from work and walks in the door, Ben gets so excited and grins at him, flapping that little arm up and down (his version of a wave, we think). They play hard together and have a great time. It's really special to see them together and to know that as Ben grows up, he'll have a good relationship with his dad. It's also a huge blessing to know that he's got such a godly example in Bryan. And Bryan had (and still has) a wonderful example in his own father, and he had a great example in his grandfather too; what a special godly heritage this is for Benjamin.

For those who are not in the Nickel family and would not know this, Bryan was born on Father's Day, and named (by his initials) after his grandfather. Benjamin is also named (by initials) after Grandpa Nickel (his great-grandpa) -- so this is really a neat day for us.

For myself, my dad was (and is) a great father to me, as a little girl growing up. He was really the perfect man to be a father to two little girls. He put up with all of our antics (and tantrums) and I have so many special memories of my dad...listening to old 45's on Saturdays while Mom worked, going to bookstores (I was a bookworm as a kid, so bookstores were like heaven to me), going to Grandma and Poppa's house...so many things! He was, and is, an extremely patient man - he taught me how to drive a stickshift and even lived to laugh about it - and a gentle and loving man too. I think that's how I knew how to pick a husband! :)

So...we are okay for today, looking forward to when Bryan comes home next week. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!