Retreat letters for my children

 It took me a long time to write the senior retreat letters to my children.  Since it has been ten years since my youngest graduated, I thought that it might be a good idea to type up the retreat letters and post them to my bog so that others can enjoy them.  I copied the original, hand written, letters into my journal.

Dear Grant:

I want you to know, now that you are a senior in high school, you are everything that I could hope for in a son.  You SAT scores prove that you are smart, your years as a wrestler show your athleticism and dedication, and you are just an overall nice guy.  But believe me, it was a long and hard road to get you to be the person that you are today.

Your mother and I had been trying to have a baby for over a year and a half when we finally went to a fertility specialist.  After a series of tests and procedures, you were born, and our lives had irrevocably changed for the better.  I remember that when you were a baby you were just a helpless blob who “drooled like a madman.”  You put everything that you could get your hands on into your mouth.  Also, you were constantly sick; you were at the doctor’s office at least once a week for your first year of life.  It is my firm belief that you were worth every bit of love and effort that we put into you.

My happiest memories of you were when you attended Twinbrook Preschool.  You used to scream with excitement and beat on the big picture windows when you saw me coming up the sidewalk to pick you up.  Once I was in the building you would take my hand and guide me to your cubby so that you could show me all of the artwork that you had created that day.  Before we left to go home, your teacher would stop me to tell me about all of the cute things that you had done.  For example, you had a special towel that you used for a cape and you would put it on as soon as you got to preschool.  Just by putting on that cape you were no longer Grant Frazier but became “The Weatherman.”  I still don’t know why you picked that name.  Or do you remember the time when you pretended to marry Colleen and you two walked around, arm in arm, all day?”  I really miss those days.

Now you are all grown up and a senior in high school and I could not be prouder of you.  It reminds me of what God once said of Jesus: “This is my son with whom I am well pleased.”  It also reminds me of what the comedian, Bill Cosby, said of his son when the the boy was killed by a stranger.  Cosby said of his son, “He was my hero.”  I didn’t understand that statement but now that I have a grown son I totally agree with the sentiment.  You are my hero and I am pleased with the young man that you have become.

Strength and Honor,
Love,
Your Father 


Dear Lillian:

I cannot believe that it is already your senior retreat.  Time goes by so fast.  It seems like just yesterday that we took you to Twinbrook for day care.  You refused to wear anything but a pretty dress to school, even when it was freezing in the dead of winter, because you loved to twirl around and watch your dress float up.  Also, to accessorize, you always wore your flat-bottomed black shoes because of the “clip clop” sound that they made.  You were always my beautiful angel; perfect in every way.

Perfect, that is, until someone crossed you.  One time you came crying to me at the end of the day because a little boy had thrown dirt on your pretty dress.  I said, “What do you want me to do?  Go and beat him up?”  You replied with, “No!  I want you to shoot him with your gun.”  (This is funny because the only gun that I ever owned wasn’t real.  It was a replica from the Civil War and I used when I was a re-enactor).  On another occasion, I was on my way to work but you wanted me to play on your Pogo Stick.  When I said that I could do it because I would get all sweaty before work, you called me a “big sissy.”  (It was funny because it was so out of character for you)

I always knew that you were special but it was nice to have my opinion confirmed by others.  For example, I was so proud to watch you win the “Eagle Award” at Holy Trinity.  Also, there was the time that Mr. Collard said “my best little girl is up front” when he made you the line leader.  You have always been a great kid but it was gratifying to hear others say nice things about you.

In closing, I would like to paraphrase “The Grapes of Wrath.”  My apologies to John Steinbeck.

When you finish high school and move out of the house, I’ll be there.

When you go to college and need help with starting your career, I’ll be there.
   

I’ll be there when you get married and you need for me to give you away.

I’ll be there when you have children of your own and need a babysitter.  You know that I will
           always be ready to help.

And when you’ve married the man of your dreams and live in the house that you have bought, why I will be there, too.

I love you, Button!
Have a great retreat!
Dad



Dear Virginia:

I cannot believe that it is already your senior retreat.  It seem like just yesterday that I was picking you up from Holy Trinity’s after school care.  You were always running and playing but when you saw me you would yell “Daddy” and then jump up into my arms.  That was the gift that God has given you in that you were always in a good mood and you were always running and playing.  The only time that you stopped moving was when you were sleeping.

Virginia, you are our most emotional child in that you always wore your heart on your sleeve.  Do you remember crying out of happiness when you read your first sentence?  Or when you cried out of frustration when the birds kept flying away when all that you wanted to do was to pat them on the head.  And then there was the time when you cried out of sadness when we read “Of Mice and Men” and George had to shoot Lenny.  You cried out of fear when you saw the first born sons being killed in the mini-series, “Jesus of Nazareth.”  I love how passionate you are.

You have always had a positive mental attitude and a lust for life: eager to please and a ready smile on your face.  Virginia, I am sure that you are going to be happy no matter where life takes you.  My only advise to you, as you finish high school and move on to college, is to open yourself up to Christ.  Let him into your life and he will give you meaning and purpose.

In closing, it is my personal belief that heaven will be a loop of our favorite memories all strung together and played over and over again.  We have had memories that we can share in eternity.  Memories like dancing to “Fly Me to the Moon” in Cancun.  Or when we wrapped you up in a towel after you had taken a bath when you were a baby to make a “Virginia Burrito!”  Memories like playing with our dog, Laika, and then posting silly pictures of you two on Facebook.

Once I had to leave to go out of town and I asked you if you would miss me.  You said, “Of course I’ll miss you!  We are buddies!”  That statement meant the world to me.  You have always been a good daughter, and a good friend, and I am proud of the young woman that you have become.

I love you, Punkin.
Daddy