Earlier this week Chris shared this note with me that he had written to Simon when they were on a recent camping adventure. He wrote it by the light of his headlamp in our tent.
There's so many things I love about this letter.
I love that he was inspired enough and touched enough by this experience with Simon to document it with words. I love that he actually wrote it all out by the light of the headlamp, making those thoughts reality rather than just keeping them close to his heart. I love that he repeated the same phrase at the end of each paragraph/thought. I love that he included some of the details of the adventure along with his feelings for Simon. I love that he drew a smiley face at the end of one of his sentences.
Chris, you are a really great Dad. We love you so, so much.
This treasure is going into an 8.5×11 page protector in our 365/Project Life album.
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Thanks for sharing a little bit of your beautiful family online, this is moving. Wish all dads wrote something to their kiddos!
that is insanely beautiful. One day when Simon is a Dad himself, he will know the true meaning of this touching letter. Congratulations Chris for writing such raw feelings down and for allowing Ali to share it with us.
I’ve said many times over many years that I think you are incredible parents. Another tick in the box right here.
I love this, thank you so much for sharing with us. Simon is one lucky boy to have such a great dad. Hope we will get to see some pictures sometime in the future.
On another note, while shopping at the dollar tree yesterday I found the last 2 shadow boxes and got them for my girls to paint and decorate like mine, thanks to your weekend creative ideas. Also while thinking more about being outside as a child my sister reminded me of the HUGE willowtree in my nana’s yard. We use to play house under it and pull on the branches and pretend they were showers, mail drop, telephone, etc. It was our favorite thing to do in her yard. Also at my cousin’s house they had a tree outside the kids bedroom window and we had just enough room to ride our bikes between the tree and house well some of us would be inside and pretend to take mcdonald’s orders and the bank and the library, etc. these were the best times just using our imaginations. Thanks for reminding me of these times and going to write it down to save for my kids to know.
thank you for sharing….it made me misting. I”m sitting at my desk wanting to take our kids camping now. lol
Wow…this was incredibly touching! I loved the “I love you Simon” bit each time…tearing up each time I read it. Thank you for sharing!
What a treasure! Thank you for sharing
Wow. I totally have chills right now. What a precious thing…
- April
Thank you so much for sharing such an intimate piece of your life. It sounds so true, straight from his heart. This will for sure be cherished forever by Simon when he grows up!
This brought a tear to my eye – what a great dad! There are so many times as parents we have these thoughts but don’t put them down on paper to share with our kids. Thank you so much for reminding me how important this kind of story telling is! You and your family inspire me!
So beautiful…
It makes me a bit sad though – I am a bit weepy now – because my sons father has been absent for the first 15 months of his life… We are trying to come to an arrangement now, but it’s not easy… for any of us.
Reading this note I do hope that they will be able to bond in the future and that my son will have great times with his dad too. I can only wish his dad will harbour some of the feelings Chris feels one day… He is a great dad, Simon is a wonderful kid. I think my son deserves that bond in his life too.
Keeping my fingers crossed,
Nancy
A real treasure indeed!!!!! Chris—Dads everywhere could take some pointers from you!
Oh my Gosh, Ali. This is SO sweet.
what a TREASURE!! how lucky your kids are to have 2 parents who write it down. what a great basis for a little book of the 2 of them with bits and pieces of the letter throughout.
What a priceless treasure! That will mean so much to Simon later in life. Right now it means so much to all of us- thank you so much for sharing. I love your analysis of what makes it so special.
There is nothing like seeing your husband + your son create special memories! And what a blessing that your hubby recorded. Truly priceless!
Crying…very special. What a great adventure together.
This is so heartwarming. I find it rare for a dad to write out like that. Simon and Anna are very lucky to have a wonderful, expressive dad.
Absolutely beautiful.
Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for sharing. I am such a sentimental person…it brought tears to my eyes just thinking about being with family and how those moments are so precious.
What a wonderful sentiment. I had tears in my eyes while reading. Your children are very lucky to have the both of you!
Thanks for sharing this. Your kiddos have one super dad! I love finding things like this in my own home.
Simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing your time, your talent, and your wonderful family with all of us.
God Bless.
Makes me smile.
I love this letter. It makes me want to take my nephews camping. Thank you for this… Chris really does seem like a great dad.
No words…just “wow”. Simon is a very blessed little boy.
Thank you for honoring your husband in this special way. Your have inspired me to figure out a way to honor my husband this day.
LOVE. So true what you say about making those thoughts reality by writing them down. It’s a generous act.
Just yesterday I “shared” letters I wrote to my now 5 yr old when he was a newborn (http://deniselaborde.typepad.com/the_creative_juice_bar/2010/06/sharing-letters-correspondence-part-i.html). It transported me. There is just something about the written word.
SO special! XO
Wow. Just wow. What an incredible man and father!
Heart…………… melting………
Treasure this Ali!!!!!
So precious. I love this, Ali. And I love how much your little family loves each other.
Oh my, that is the sweetest letter. I have tears in my eyes. Thank you for sharing the letter and your wonderful family with us.
Oh my, tears came to my eyes. I just love when a father, or a man expresses himself this way and especially to his child/children. You are very lucky indeed.
Oh my goodness! Reading that letter brought tears to my eyes. What an incredible dad! Happy Father’s Day Chris!
i couldn’t help crying as i read this. thank you for sharing this letter with us, ali.
so beautiful. brought tears to my eyes.
The world doesn’t need more smart dads, rich dads, well traveled dads. It need more good dads. Looks like Simon has a great dad. So important so he can grow up secure and confident. Love it.
Wow, that’s wonderful. Thanks for sharing such an intimate piece of your family life. Now I just have to dry my eyes and get back to work.
That is just so sweet!
As I am sitting here with my 3 year old son and 9 month old daughter i have tears rolling down my cheeks. This really touched my heart. What a sweet thing to have and cherish for years to come. Something as simple as a handwritten letter can mean so much. Thanks for sharing your life with all of us strangers. You are a constant read of mine and you somehow make this stay at home mom not feel so alone.
Wonderful. That’s what it’s all about.
That made me teary eyed – how sweet!!
What a wonderful, touching letter from a father to a son! I wish more Dads would do this.
now that I’m done crying…
what a treasure!
I have tears in my eyes…this is so precious and such a gift that you, and Simon, will treasure for always.
THank you for sharing this note.
I’ve encouraged the parents of the students (older elementary/middle school aged) i will take next week on a mission trip to write a note just like this for their kids – so I can give it to them during the trip.
Thank you so much for the example. I’m going to “steal” it to explain it a bit more.
(Hey, I got a letter like this a “love letter” from my folks a year ago. It’s stuck in my Bible. It’s great as a kid, it’s even greater as an adult!)
K
Oh my Gosh. Tears are absolutely pouring from my eyes. Thank you for sharing this with us. And thank you, Chris, for being the kind of patient and observant parent who could write something like this. It’s an amazing portrait of fatherhood.
I’m taking Kelly Rae Roberts ecourse Flying Lessons and she posted your blog for her students to take a look at. I want to say thank you. You’ve inspired me, and I plan on coming back here often. And here’s a look into one of mine:
http://jillluigs.blogspot.com
Thank you,
Jill Luigs
Wow. This made me cry. What an amazing man.
What an amazing thing to find. How special for your family to have such an amazing man