The sweetest words

Kids are amazing. My two daughters do things that amaze me on a daily basis and my oldest daughter did something a few weeks ago that completely melted my heart.

With working nights, I'm afforded the great opportunity to spend a large amount of time with my kids, and for anyone who knows me, we have a lot of the same interests. I love cartoons, I'm not above coloring for hours and there's nothing I like more than reading books at naptime.

Recently, my oldest daughter and I were kicking it at home alone because she was sick. Lying on the couch watching Charlie Brown, she gave me a look and then put her tiny hand to her chest. Knowing that we had already had her to the hospital, I was a tiny bit concerned.

Then she stuttered and stammered, trying to explain something to me, but all I could get from it was something about her heart. This really freaked me out. After a line of questioning, this is what my four year old said to me.

"Daddy, you make my heart happy. You make my life happy."

Wow. I was like butter in the hot summer sun. I didn't know what to say. She just kept looking at me with this little sideways grin and then leaned over and gave me a kiss on the forehead. She went on watching Snoopy and the gang like nothing big just happened.

Of all the things I do, of all the things I'll ever achieve -- that is what makes life the most incredible journey any of us will ever take. I know times are crazy and there are things that need to be done, but take my advice and slow down, because what took my four-year old 10 seconds to say, will stay with me for a lifetime.

Life's a journey -- enjoy the ride.