Grant Daniel

I remember the first time I saw Grant.

Our first conversation was telling each other redneck jokes and the first time we told each other "I love you," was when we were getting ready to set up a deer blind for the upcoming season.

(For you city slickers, that's a cover device for hunters, designed to reduce the chance of detection.)

I remember Grant calling and asked my dad if he could court me. I didn't know what that meant so my dad explained it to me. (It's basically prayerfully dating someone.)

I remember Grant saying the sweetest things I have ever been told as he cried and washed my feet the day he asked me to "walk with him in the Spirit as his wife." Next to being saved, that is probably the next happiest moment in my life.


I remember the day we made a covenant and said "I do."
Our wedding colors were black and real tree camouflage.
Believe it or not, to this day people tell me that was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to! You can be a classy redneck, it's true.




I remember the day I found out I was pregnant with our first child.
I hollered for him to come here and then pointed at the stick and said, "what does that mean??"
Looking back I can't believe he didn't burst out laughing at such a silly question, but instead he cried and said "it means you're pregnant!" as he hugged me.

I remember watching Grant hold Raylea for the first time. It was amazing.

He had such a deep love in his eyes for his little baby girl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eight months ago I watched him say "hello" to his son for the first time.

It was just as amazing.

In between the birth of our daughter and son we were expecting another baby, who's heart stopped beating at only 6 weeks old in my belly. I watched Grant weep uncontrollably the day it was confirmed by the doctor. One day, we will get to meet that son or daughter. I can't wait.

Grant is no more a perfect dad or husband as you are perfect at whatever roles you play in life.

One thing that I have always said about Grant is that he hurts if he hurts God.

 

 

Ya, that may sound simple, but really, how many people do you know like that?

Grant will lay in Raylea's twin sized bed and read her bedtime stories and pray with her before she goes to sleep as he rubs her back, just like she likes.

 

 

Grant will tickle her and make her laugh the hardest I have ever heard.

 

 

He will give her random change either just for fun or for doing "work" around the house.

 

 

He has a way with her that is awesome. Whether it is telling her a story and making her enter into a make believe world with him, or speaking to her about why she needs to share and be nice to our dog... he can explain things to her in the best way.

 

 

When he walks into the room he makes Jack smile the biggest he physically can.

 

 

That's his little man. His little buddy. His "Bubby," as we call him.

 

 

When he has to leave to go preach a revival and we can't go, me, Ray and Jack miss him terribly.

 

 

We get lonesome for him.

Grant is Raylea's first love and Jack's hero.

He is both of their role models.

Grant sets the bar for the type of guy Raylea will look to marry one day.

How he treats me is how she will expect to be treated.

How he loves God is how she will expect her husband to love Him.

How he speaks is how she will expect her husband to speak to her and others.

How Grant treats me is how Jack will treat his wife one day.

How Grant loves God and leads us spiritually is how Jack will guide his family one day.

How Grant loves God is likely how Jack will.

A dad is a very important role.

If you have a dad this Father's Day, call and tell him you love him.

It may be hard to do for some people, as they may not have the best relationship with their fathers, but one day when he is gone, you'll wish you could go back to this day and call him.

God is our true refuge and where we got our pure joy from, but he gives us a dad to play that role to the best of their ability, 24/7 in person. In flesh. Right before our eyes.

Love your dad.

Love your kids, dad.

Forgive your dad.

Forgive you kids, dad.

Time is too short to spend it holding grudges or being unforgiving. Nobody is perfect.

God can and will heal all.

You're ready.

For a little surprise for Grant, I asked Ray a few questions about him. :)

By the way, she is three.

What is your Daddy's Name?

Daddy

What is your favorite thing about Daddy?

I like his hair.

What is daddy's favorite thing to do?

Golf.

What is Daddy's job?

His job is he works.

Where at?

Wichita.

What does he do for his job?

Sings and preaches and he can read.

Why do you think Daddy is the best Daddy in the world?

I know him and I love him and I love him back and I love him strong and I love him back!

What does he do that makes you feel happy?

He gives money to me.

What else?

I like to play with him. We shop and we pray and we get along together and we go eat together.

What do you want to say to Daddy for Happy Father's Day?

 I want to say you're my best friend! And I want to say "Love you, Dad, you're my best friend!"

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Grant, for praying with us and for leading us spiritually and for always trying your hardest to provide for us and love us. We don't deserve you. I have seen you pray, read your Bible and fast on a regular basis and I can truly say that you do seek God. God has anointed your life and we have yet to see the amazing plans fold out that He has stored up for us at the right moment. You're my best friend and my sweetie pie. I would fight a tiger for you. 

 Happy Father's Day from all three of your kiddos. Raylea Jo, August Shalom and Jack Gannon.

I love you, Babe.

Hannah Jo



Bubby and Sissy

 

 

I have been so blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom to my two children.

 

Raylea Jo is three.

 

 

She loves action. She loves going. She loves moving. She loves to giggle. Cucumbers, strawberries, watermelon, cheese, blueberries, eggs, tilapia (I know, right?), ice-cream (ya, that's more like it...) and anything sweet. She loves doing her devotion and school in the morning. She loves to get one sip of my coffee. She loves to brush her teeth. She loves being read to. She loves the sprinkler. She loves the zoo. She loves surprises. She loves church. She loves coloring. She loves to pray. She loves me and her daddy. She loves Sophie, our dog.

She loves Bubby.

 

 

Jack Gannon is eight months.

 

 

He loves to be held. He loves to see himself in the mirror. He loves food. He loves Sophie, too. He loves going on walks. He loves the nursery at church. He loves to swing. He loves being tickled. He loves being read to. He loves peek-a-boo. He loves music. He loves me and his daddy.

He loves Sissy.

 

 

 

I was blessed to be able to have both a Bubby and a Sissy growing up. I have two bubbies to be exact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My sister has always called me "Sissy" and I have always called her "Sis." She lives in South Korea right now with her three daughters and husband. They have been there for a year and they will be there for another two years. I miss them terribly and it makes my heart sad to think I won't see my nieces for three total years. My sister told me the other day she can't wait to meet Jack. She was the one person besides my older brother, that was missing on the day he was born. She made my nerves go down so much on the day Raylea was born. I was so lonesome for her on October 13th, 2014. I will get to meet Lucy, my newest niece when she is well over two years old for the first time. She sent me a package of clothes for Ray and Jack yesterday and my eyes filled with tears as I looked at the sweet little outfits she picked out and bought just for them. I love my sister. And she loves me.

 

 

My older bubby lives in North Carolina. I have always called him "bro." He is my hero in many ways. He would do anything for me, I know that for a fact. He is probably the strongest person I know of personally, physically and mentally. I miss him terribly. His job keeps him busy literally 24/7 so it's hard for him to get away. I have only seen him once in the past 7 years, but I am praying that him and I will have mansions next to each other in Heaven so we can hang out all the time.

 

 

My little bubby lives about fifteen miles away. Thankfully, I have one sibling who I get to be around often or whenever I want. He is one of the hardest workers a person would ever meet. He loves God and it shows in his life. I remember the first year I tried to sit on his head in the snow as a kid and he threw me off and started to sit on me! I realized that he may be younger, but officially he was stronger. I will never forget watching him bawl as he watched his soon to be wife walk down the isle towards him. He loves big. He picks up on stuff. He is meek and kind. I want to be more like him.

 

 

 

Raylea and Jack already have a unique bond. She may feel a little left out when I have to tend to him, bathe him, feed him, do everything for him... but she is so kind and loving towards him always. He makes her smile the biggest I have ever seen and laugh the hardest I have ever heard. She does the same for him. He can be crying and will smile if she comes up to him. She runs to get his pacifier if he's upset and says "shhh, shhhh" really soft. She gives him the sweetest kisses you've ever seen.

 

 

 

She started crying the other day saying, "I want Bubby!!!" We had went to run an errand and left him either with Grant or Nana and buddy, she was not happy that Bubby wasn't with us.

 

 

 

 

It just got me thinking about how blessed we are sometimes to have a blood relative and it can be easy to take them for granted. Whether they are across the world, as my sister is, or across the United States, like the older brother is, or just a ten minute drive away, like my little brother is, they matter and need to know I love them and care.

 

 

This post is a bit different than others, but I wanted to remind those of you who have a Bubby or a Sissy to tell them you love them today. Call them up if you have their number. Texting is so easy and not personable a lot of the times, in my opinion. A phone call or a card in the mail always makes my day, so I'm sure it does for others as well.

 

 

Whether you haven't seen your sibling in 20 years or you talk every single day, let them know you love them and you always will. Show Christ's love. It isn't too hard.