Anyone who knows my dad, knows that Jay doesn’t do anything small. When he gets an idea (which is often), it’s a BIG idea and he always follows through with what he sets out to do. Growing up was always interesting because he was either chasing hurricanes, breaking Guinness Book of World Records, traveling to third world countries to share the Gospel, etc. I could go on and on (and on and on and on). But one thing he always did was make sure my mom, Sean and I knew we were the most important things in the world to him.
One of those acts of love was to bury a time capsule up in the Rocky Mountains for me to find one day. When I was a baby, he went backpacking in Colorado and burried this capsule. Then when I was ten, we went up there and I dug it up. Inside, he had written the neatest letter to me. It talked about me being a baby and how much he loved me and my soon to be brother or sister …which turned out to be Sean.
Well, 2008 has turned Jay into a grandpa and he’s not going to let Miss Kensington not have a capsule too. But this time, it’s a box. Inside this box, everyone in my family has placed a letter and an item for her to read and have when she turns 16. It was very, very hard for me to write this letter. I kept thinking, what if I’m already with Jesus when she turns 16 or what if Andrew is…and then I started looking at the items my family was putting into this box and it was so special that it made me cry (yes…even Shay cries and can sometimes be sentimental!). I didn’t read any of the letters…those are for Kensington to read 16 years from now, but just watching my family put their items in the box and comment on what they had written, made my heart full. My 83 year old grandfather put a poem in there he wrote for Kensington, my aunt Pam said it took her 3 drafts to write this letter, my grandmother put a piece of jewelry in the box, Casey’s envelope jingled, there were photographs, and my dad put his pocket watch in.
We took a family picture of all of us with Kensington and that is going in there too. As I looked at the picture, I kept thinking…what will this picture mean to me 16 years from now? I’m not naive…I know my heart will break when I look at it 16 years from now because life will be different and some of the most important people in my life won’t be with us to see her open the box.
The most important thing this box represents to me is that I have a dad who loves me so much that he would fly to Colorado this Saturday, drive up in the mountains, camp outside for 2 days in the snow (yes, there is already 9 inches of snow on the ground where he is going) and bury this box of memories and letters for my baby to see when she’s older.
You might be crazy Dad, but you’re the best dad in the world. We love you.
Haley says
what a wonderful idea. kensington is lucky to have such a wonderful family!
Amanda says
WOW! Speechless. My childhood was so difficult that it is hard to imagine someone actually having parents like this. What an incredible blessing! Your Dad rocks! He has given you an incredible picture in real life of what your heavenly father’s love is like.
Thanks for sharing this!!! So glad I found your blog!
Melissa says
There went the mascara… 🙂
Awesome post!
Baller BFG says
What an awesome idea!
Jessica
The White Family says
I have no clue why my last comment says baller_bfg???
Jessica
Amanda & Kelly says
Oh my gosh! I am so excited you came to my blog! I really want to email you!!! 🙂 I have so much I want to say but don’t want to go crazy in the comments!!! I have so many questions about running!!!! I am running my first marathon in February and first half in December. AND I want that recipe for those cookies!!! 🙂 Okay so if you decide I can email you, email me at mamasings2three@gmail.com!
Steph H. says
Shay, I found your blog through Kara’s. The box is so sweet and such a wonderful idea. Your dad is amazing! I don’t know if he remembers this, but out of nowhere one day when I was working at PPBC I received an email from your dad telling me what a great job I was doing and how much he appreciated my hard work. I know it was a simple email and it only took him a few minutes, but the fact is he did it and it made me so happy and every time I think of your dad that is my memory. We should all act on our great ideas just like your dad.
Stephanie “Holt” Heady
rackersfamily says
I can’t stop crying! That is so sweet.
Anonymous says
Oh my goodness!! Reading your favorite posts today and this one is great!! I may be laying in bed crying (happy, hopeful tears!), and I'm trying to not wake Russell up. What an amazing thing for Kensington to have one day. Thanks for sharing this special story!
Blaire Reagan
Allison O says
What a wonderful idea! I came from your favorite post (July 2013) so you may never see this, but how does your dad know where they are? Does he mark them in any way? How easy was it to find yours? Figured I'd take some tips from the pro (or the daughter of the pro!). Thanks!
Allison O says
What a wonderful idea! I came from your favorite post (July 2013) so you may never see this, but how does your dad know where they are? Does he mark them in any way? How easy was it to find yours? Figured I'd take some tips from the pro (or the daughter of the pro!). Thanks!