Happy Birthday Jessie
Happy Birthday to the Dad Behind So Many of Our Adventures
Today is Jessie’s birthday.
And after spending the last four months traveling together, I think I’ve had more opportunities than ever to watch him be a dad.
There are the big moments, of course.
The hikes. The national parks. The fishing trips. The places we've dreamed about taking our kids.
But when I think about Jessie as a dad, it’s usually the smaller moments that come to mind.
It’s getting up early because Hudson wants to go fishing.
It’s teaching him how to tie a knot, cast a fly rod, or do something himself instead of simply doing it for him.
It’s watching Macie try something new and making sure she knows he’s watching when she turns around looking for us.
It’s bringing Lincoln along, even when having a five-year-old beside you makes everything take a little longer.
Jessie has always been the kind of dad who believes our kids are capable.
He teaches them.
He challenges them.
He lets them struggle a little.
And then he’s right there when they need him.
I think that's one of the reasons our kids have been able to do so much this year. They know Dad believes they can.
Four Months Side by Side
Living together in a motorhome for four months also means I’ve gotten a pretty good look at the husband behind all of these adventures.
This year hasn't just been national parks and beautiful views.
It's been long driving days, work, laundry, homeschooling, grocery runs, RV problems, tired kids, changed plans, and five people sharing a very small space.
And somehow, through all of that, we've gotten to experience more life side by side than probably ever before.
We’ve watched our kids accomplish hard things.
We've sat beside mountain lakes while they fished.
We've driven roads we had never seen before.
We've laughed when things went completely differently than we expected.
And we've figured things out together when the day wasn't quite as fun.
There is nobody else I would rather be doing this with.
The Dad They’ll Remember
Someday our kids probably won't remember every national park we visited this year.
They may forget the names of trails or which campground we stayed in.
But I hope they remember the dad who was there.
The dad who took them fishing.
Who taught them things.
Who hiked beside them.
Who showed them wildlife through binoculars.
Who encouraged them to try.
Who believed they could do hard things.
And who gave them a childhood full of adventure.
I know this year is shaping our kids.
But I also know a huge part of the reason they are becoming confident and capable is because of the dad walking beside them.
So today, we celebrate Jessie.
My husband.
Their dad.
My favorite person to do this crazy life with.
Happy birthday, Jessie.
We love you, and we’re so grateful we get to adventure through life with you.
-Kayla