Dear Journey,

Early on in the beginning of Mommy and Daddy's marriage, we
decided as a couple that Daddy was going to stay home and
take care of you, while Mommy pursued her career as a
doctor. This isn't how all families are, but this is what
works best for our family. Everything Mommy and Daddy do is
done with the thought of how will this be best for you. We
know you are not always going to agree or enjoy our
decisions, but the question we are seeking to answer when
we make those decisions is always how will this enrich
Journey's faith, health, development, and over all life?
Being a stay-at-home dad has come with many different
emotions and experiences. Daddy didn't know that this was
going to be the most challenging responsibility and job he
has ever had, but he also didn't know that it was going to
be one of the greatest rewards and blessings of his entire
life. 
Journey, I chose to write a column and keep videos
chronicling your early stages in life so that when you grow 
up and become older, you can always have something to help 
you remember your childhood. I also aimed for my writing to 
be a resource and encouragement to other first-time 
stay- at-home dads. More importantly, I want you to know 
that the bond and love that we share as father and daughter 
started well before you were born and has continued to deepen 
with each passing day.
Journey, understand there are going to come times when you
will be upset with me and I will be upset with you. There
will be times when you will disappointment me and I will
disappointment you. There will also come times when you
won't understand that I am not your pal or buddy, but I am
your father and my job is to shepherd and guide you through
life. My job is also to impress upon you that you are a
child of God and you belong to Him first before me.
I want you to know that you are amazing, brilliant, flawed,
forgiving, caring, kind, compassionate, fearless, gorgeous,
funny, remarkable, sweet, gifted, giving, merciful,
intelligent, and lovable. Journey, when you look back and
read these words and remember the times shared with Daddy,
I want you to feel and know without a shadow of doubt that
you are always within the circle of God and Daddy's love.
Always! I will never abandon you. You are mine. You are my
daughter and I am your daddy and that will never change.
Out of all the daughters in the world, God blessed me to be
your father. So there is nothing you can ever do that will
change that. When life gets hard and you make mistakes,
there may be consequences, but that's OK. Come to me first
and we will work through it together.
Watching you grow and develop during this first year of
your life has been an absolute joy and pleasure. It's a
brand new feeling on a daily basis, and Mommy and I are so
thankful to God that He brought you into our lives. Just to
give you a little heads up and warning, one day you will
likely have a little brother or little sister. They will be
an entirely different person from you, and Mommy and Daddy
will love them the same. You will both require and need
different things, and Mommy and Daddy's love is big enough
to share.
Happy first birthday, baby girl.
Daddy will always love you.