this father's day...

...i'm thankful for the man who i always knew would be a great dad, who proves it to me (and our kids) each and every day. i never get tired of watching him interact with them and i can't wait to see how their relationships develop as the years go by. he has such a calming presence and is a natural problem solver, two awesome skills when it comes to parenting. heck, he helps keep me calm, as well ;) i'm so proud of this life we have built together and it just keeps getting better.

....for the first time ever, i'm in a different state than my dad. i know i haven't updated you all on his condition lately. truth be told, it's because he is not doing very well. and i'm finding it much harder to write about this subject nowadays than when he was doing well. he's been getting progressively sicker over the last few months, he recently found out his tumors are growing and spreading, something that didn't come as a surprise to him or us as he has been getting weaker, thinner, less mobile, and is in a lot of pain. they have stopped chemo and started radiation to try to shrink a tumor in his lower back, that is pressing on his spine. he was also approved for a new type of drug (immunotherpy), but they won't start that until early july when his radiation is done. he has to have fluid drained from his chest on a weekly basis. please send your positive thoughts and prayers his way! i know that we ultimately chose to make this move (with his blessing), but it's still tough being away. i talk to my parents almost daily and they never guilt me for being away. they take an interest in our day to day adventures and i hope i provide a momentary distraction from the not-so-fun stuff. i'm planning to go back to minnesota with the kids in a couple weeks for a visit. while we are enjoying our time here immensely, our trip back home can't come soon enough. 

finally, i want to wish my father in law, durant a happy father's day too! thanks for being an awesome father in law to me and grandpa to my kids!