Father's Day

As you already know from our previous posts, the DN spent Father's Day getting Charlie baptized and then celebrating with family and friends (pictures coming soon, really, we promise). Taking Charlie to the altar and proclaiming before God, family, friends and church that we would raise Charlie in the church and with God was very powerful. It really brings home how monumental a task Charlie is for us. As you can imagine, after the baptismal part of the service was complete, I felt like I had done my work, the day had hit its crescendo and I was sort of coasting through the service -- sorry God, I know it was wrong, but we both know it was true. But then our pastor's sermon hit me like a freight train, waking me up (spiritually I mean, I wasn't coasting that much) and really making me think about fatherhood and challenging me to be the father that I want Charlie to have.

I cannot do the sermon justice in a brief blog entry, but fortunately our church records them and posts them online here -- it is the June 18 sermon by Jack Harnish titled Bart and Homer, Fathers and Sons. The text of the sermon is not up yet, but Jack's presence and delivery are so strong that you really should listen to it anyway. Just click the "listen" button and your computer should bring up an audio player of some sort (make sure the sound is not muted, like mine was the first time I tried to listen to it). Be prepared, during the service I teared up, Grandma D teared up, and so did everyone in front of and behind me.

Finally, an embarrassingly personal Father's Day note, but that's what this site is for isn't it? I realize Charlie cannot read or appreciate this now, but we are saving the posts for a day when he might enjoy watching us grow into our parenting roles and watching himself grow up through our eyes.

Charlie, I love you son. I will be there for you. And I will strive to be juicy, sensual and fun (listen to the sermon and it will make sense). Those are not always my strong suits, I am better at serious, hard-working and dedicated, but for you I will be those things. And I will keep telling you and showing you that I love you even when you stop wanting to hear it.