Pane Daddy "Daddy's Pane"

"Pane Daddy, Daddy's Pane!" This is what I hear from my youngest Gracie, every time a plane fly's over head or she sees a plane on any given TV show. When I was gone to my total of 4 weeks of training apparently one day driving by the airport my youngest was smart enough to understand that Daddy left on a plane and would be back soon on a plane.

So now, every time there is a plane in her view she says the above statement. She gets excited and points her small chubby digit in the dirction of the "pane." Daddy smiles and says, "yes baby plain."

Our children are aware of everything around them. They are sensative in ways that suprise us and even more suprising is their ability to process this information and verbalize it when we least expecct it. Both of my children do this.

Recently the final barge for the season arrived with our Container containing our things that have been in storage for a year. In the items stored were various things we decided not to sell off. Some of the girls toys, family photo albums, my bike (which I am itching to ride again), and massive amounts of books boxed up (both mine and pop's).

As we brought in a good percentage of the things that cluttered the house (and still does) i pulled out various photo albums and flipped through the pictures for my girls to look at. It was like Christmas morning for them all over again. New toys and things to fiddle with. I was sitting with Gracie looking at some of these photos when we came to page from when Gabby was her age in Skagway. Gracie pointed that chubby little diggit and touched the page saying "Gaaee" which translates to Gabby. She recognized the younger version of her sister. Gabby heard her and ran over taking her attention to all the reunited toys and clothing from that past and visited the memories with me and her little sister. I watched as a smile broke and my girls carried on their conversation, Gabby narrating to her baby sister where and when the picture was taken.

An unexpected and suprising thought hit me as we looked at these pictures. It wasn't all that long ago that Gabby spoke in borken sentances and pointed an equally chubby digget at things she saw. I had forgotten the bond that I had with Gabby when she was that age. From birth my oldest and I had a very strong bond. She was a daddy's girl. While this is still true to a degree there are times I felt that bond has been replaced with a bond with her Paupo. But the reminder of our bond helped me to realize that my little girls love me very much. They shared a moment with daddy. They brought me joy and of course a small tear welled up that I quickly wiped away before it could run it's course down my cheek.

I looked up noticing someone was watching us. It was my wife with a smile across her face. I realized something more. My life is complete with the blessing that I have three girls in my life that I love very much and who love me in return. At that moment all the years of prayer that God would fill my lonliness and replace it the love of a family of my own, was now my reality. Over this past year I have learned to take the moments and hold on. But, it doesn't change the fact that when we hear our children say things that cause us to smile and shock us, are a reminder that time is short. Gracie will never be the age she is now again. Gabby is not two anymore and won't be four for long. The same is true for my neices and nephews. I have held and changed countless diapers of most of them. Now, my oldest niece (Emmy) is soo tall and much older. She's bright and beautiful. Many times I went out of my way traveling hours to where ever they were living to visit her. Time is short.

Embrace "Pane Daddy, Daddy's Pane" moments and don't let them go. They won't be around all that long.

Blessings,

Mike III