Gracias.

Thank You ....

Miss Julia was born 4 1/2 weeks ahead of schedule on May 31! (due date was 4th of July) Needless to say, I was not expecting to be a Dad already for this Father's Day. She's a tiny little thing - 5 lb, 13 oz., but with her appetite I doubt if she will be little for very long. I plan to post a picture of her driving the boat as soon as I can get a digital camera or get my scanner working.

Thanks!!
Here is a little poem that was sent to me! WARNING, it is a powerful poem, it made my Daddy emotions SWELL up inside of me!!

A Poem for a Dad - (author unknown)
> >
> >Her hair was up in a pony tail,
> >her favorite dress tied with a bow.
> >Today was Daddy's Day at school,
> >and she couldn't wait to go.
> >
> >But her mommy tried to tell her,
> >that she probably should stay home.
> >Why the kids might not understand,
> >if she went to school alone.
> >
> >But she was not afraid;
> >she knew just what to say.
> >What to tell her classmates
> >of why he wasn't there today.
> >
> >But still her mother worried,
> >for her to face this day alone.
> >And that was why once again,
> >she tried to keep her daughter home.
> >
> >But the little girl went to school,
> >eager to tell them all.
> >About a dad she never see
> >a dad who never calls.
> >
> >There were daddies along the wall in back,
> >for everyone to meet.
> >Children squirming impatiently,
> >anxious in their seats.
> >
> >One by one the teacher called,
> >a student from the class.
> >To introduce their daddy,
> >as seconds slowly passed.
> >
> >At last the teacher called her name,
> >every child turned to stare.
> >Each of them was searching,
> >for a man who wasn't there.
> >
> >"Where's her daddy at?"
> >she heard a boy call out.
> >"She probably doesn't have one,"
> >another student dared to shout.
> >
> >And from somewhere near the back,
> >she heard a daddy say,
> >"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
> >too busy to waste his day."
> >
> >The words did not offend her,
> >as she smiled up at her Mom.
> >And looked back at her teacher,
> >who told her to go on.
> >
> >And with hands behind her back,
> >slowly she began to speak.
> >And out from the mouth of a child,
> >came words incredibly unique.
> >
> >"My Daddy couldn't be here,
> >because he lives so far away.
> >But I know he wishes he could be,
> >since this is such a special day.
> >
> >And though you cannot meet him,
> >I wanted you to know.
> >All about my daddy,
> >and how much he loves me so.
> >
> >He loved to tell me stories
> >he taught me to ride my bike.
> >He surprised me with pink roses,
> >and taught me to fly a kite.
> >
> >We used to share fudge sundaes,
> >and ice cream in a cone.
> >And though you cannot see him,
> >I'm not standing here alone.
> >
> >"Cause my daddy's always with me,
> >even though we are apart
> >I know because he told me,
> >he'll forever be in my heart"
> >
> >With that, her little hand reached up,
> >and lay across her chest.
> >Feeling her own heartbeat,
> >beneath her favorite dress.
> >
> >And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
> >her mother stood in tears.
> >Proudly watching her daughter,
> >who was wise beyond her years.
> >
> >For she stood up for the love
> >of a man not in her life.
> >Doing what was best for her,
> >doing what was right.
> >
> >And when she dropped her hand back down,
> >staring straight into the crowd.
> >She finished with a voice so soft,
> >but its message clear and loud.
> >
> >"I love my daddy very much,
> >he's my shining star.
> >And if he could, he'd be here,
> >but heaven's just too far
> >
> >You see he was a fireman
> >and died just this past year
> >When airplanes hit the towers
> >and taught Americans to fear.
> >
> >But sometimes when I close my eyes,
> >it's like he never went away."
> >And then she closed her eyes,
> >and saw him there that day.
> >
> >And to her mother's amazement,
> >she witnessed with surprise.
> >A room full of daddies and children,
> >all starting to close their eyes.
> >
> >Who knows what they saw before them,
> >who knows what they felt inside.
> >Perhaps for merely a second,
> >they saw him at her side.
> >
> >"I know you're with me Daddy,"
> >to the silence she called out.
> >And what happened next made believers,
> >of those once filled with doubt.
> >
> >Not one in that room could explain it,
> >for each of their eyes had been closed.
> >But there on the desk beside her,
> >was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
> >
> >And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
> >by the love of her shining bright star.
> >And given the gift of believing,
> >that heaven is never too far.
> >

Not so Mean Dean today

Thanks River Girl