Microphone Please ...

I have an 18 year old daughter! How is that even possible? She graduates High School on June 10th 2014. How is that even possible? (tons of help thats for damn sure. Tongue in cheek.) I love this girl to death with all my heart but much like when I was a kid, you never realize how much your parents really do. It is so incredibly hard for me to imagine that it just feels like it was just not that long ago that we picked up everything and moved to this town of Trophy Club.
New job, new life, new baby girl and wife. So much history in this town and raising her here has been so much fun. It is the first time I have ever felt so connected to a place. Her first birthday in home on 5 Shasta. Her first soccer games blocks away. Her first preschool at the baptist church. Her first tumble down a flight of stairs in our house there. Moving to our next house off of village trail and then to our current house shortly after Zoe was born. Why does it just feel like it's all a blur?
Great teachers. Great school. Incredible new friends. So many of which went with Adrianne through her whole life so far. It's funny to think that not only did I get to watch her grow up, but our friends did too. As well as us getting to watch their kids grow too. She had so many challenges with her disease. But she always seems to just keep pushing on through. That's Adrianne. A fighter. I know we all have amazing kids but I can only seem to think about mine right now. A girl who has this unbridled sense of compassion when it comes to others. Even when it comes to being patient with me.
I can't tell you how many times we have been with her at some school event where little kids were around her and just flocked to her to play. She has always been that way. Parents telling us "Is that your daughter? She has such a good way with little kids. She went into that playroom and the kids just came to her and now they're all quiet.". Several times at a chick-fil-a I know of off hand. Volunteering and working with the babies at church, we're told she was a natural.
As many times as she has gone to school and brought along some home baked food or homemade candies staying up all hours of the night trying to get it just right so she could hand them out in her class at school. Just like an Owens really. Always wanting to make someone happy. Compassion. Caring. Giving.
When mom was pregnant, I remember her saying "I am wishing for a baby sister!". We didn't know until Zoe was born, that she got her wish. Good thing it wasn't a big sister. That would have been a problem. I don't think Zoe could have been born to a better sister like Adrianne. I don't think she would have been as smart as she is now without Adrianne to watch,mimic and play with. A sister who cares and shares like Adrianne does. (crying)
There was honestly a time when if you would have told me "You're going to be a dad to two beautiful girls.", I would have laughed and said you were nuts. But now, after so many campouts, birthdays, soccer games, parties, medical challenges, ear infections and other misc sickies I can't begin to describe, I wouldn't give it up for the world. Someone once asked me "Do you ever wish you had a boy?". My reply will always be the same. "Are you nuts? And miss being a dad to my daughters? Dressup's and tea parties? Hot wheels on the floor? Endless hugs, giggles and laughter? princess pi's, clothes shopping, boy discussions, Prom dresses (yeah its flowing now) Are you insane? No way!" I am and always will be a participating daddy. I am and always be a loving father.

I am and always will be my daughters daddy.

Yeah I need to find a tissue now.