bittersweet

The front of Chad's Father's Day card says, "You can tell a lot about a guy by the kind of dad he is". This is so true. I knew Chad was my best friend and an awesome husband, but now he has proven to be the most wonderful father to our son. He has exceeded all expectations and seeing him with Cade every day makes me fall in love with him even more. Sappy, I know, but so very true.  

From day one, he has been protective of Cade, watching over him like none other.
It has been so sweet to watch them together.

This boy LOVES his daddy, that is for sure.

Cade is also so blessed to have such a wonderful "Papa", "Papa Josh". 

He has really went above and beyond the past couple of years, taking me in as one of his own and I'm so glad that Cade {and me & Chad} have him in our lives. Very grateful for him! 

as well as Cade's only great-grandfather, "Papa Jack"!
Cade is lucky to have them both. Two amazing men.

The McClain men...if only Papa Doug were here too 

Three generations. Joshua Douglas, Joshua Chad, and Joshua Cade.

This year was the first year I have been to church on Father's Day since daddy's been gone. It was time to take a deep breath and start new traditions for Cade. I was excited to celebrate Chad's first Father's Day but words can't express how much my heart aches wishing daddy were here to celebrate his first Father's Day as a grandpa.

I thought it would get a little easier since Cade was here but every time I looked at him today I pictured my dad holding him, laughing with him, loving on him. It's hard. It hurts. It's bittersweet. But I know that he's smiling down on us - reunited with his father (our sweet papa who passed away a few months ago and we also missed dearly today), sitting alongside the heavenly Father and they rejoice because they know they have an eternity to spend with us. One day. 

For now I'll look at pictures like these and smile. Smile knowing how much he loved us. Smile knowing how much we loved him. Smile knowing that no matter what, there's always gonna be SOMEBODY who looks like Charlie Hall.

No doubt about it. Expressions and all, there was no denying it. Spittin' image.

Daddy's girls? That was an understatement.

Nearly 20 years later and nothing had changed. One on one side, one on the other.

 Four years later, our broken hearts may still be mending but they are also full of love and joy thanks to our wonderful family, our sweet friends, and oh yeah, this little guy has had a big hand in that too!

Hope everyone had a great day