So here’s the deal … I’m probably gonna cry while writing this post.
You see, my daughter, Chelsea, has been gone on the World Race since September last year.
I know I’m not supposed to be emotional because I’m a guy (which is such a wrong assessment of strength), but I don’t care! She’s my first-born daughter, and my friend … and I miss her. Yes, I know as a dad that your daughter is not supposed to be your “friend”, but her and I have been through a lot together. And we have a crazy amount of inside jokes—so I miss her.
Over the past four and a half months, here are 50 things I’ve learned:
1.There is less singing in the house.
2.I didn’t realize I could miss someone this much.
3.I get emotional whenever someone asks me how Chelsea is doing.
4.I get so excited when she calls. Or texts. Or Marco Polos. Or WhatApps’s …
5.When video chatting, I’m always looking for signs she’s ok (Chels, if you’re not, and want to come home early, give me the thumbs up “ok” sign on video … cool?).
6.There is less hair in the sink.
7.We still watch Harry Potter on Saturday mornings (in honor of her).
8.I use Chelsea’s Parks and Rec mug every other morning (in honor of her).
9.There is less yelling in the house.
10.I miss Chelsea telling me I’m “so weird”.
11.I miss feeling stressed and anxious when Chelsea drives the car.
12.I worry that she’s cold.
13.I worry that she’s eating enough.
14.I worry that she’s gonna get a stomach bug.
15.The only thing I can do is pray about all of these things.
16.I’m excited about the adventures she’s having.
17.I love how her team is loving on her.
18.I cry when I see how much her team loves her.
19.I don’t miss how much she talks.
20.I don’t have to share my peppermint shake anymore.
21.I miss they way she would ask us at dinner if we all had a good day.
22.I actually miss how much she talks.
23.I love hearing her talk about how her faith is changing and being stretched.
24.I still look into her room every morning. Every morning. For real.
25.I miss her coming home from high school with big news.
26.I miss her smile.
27.We spend less on shampoo.
28.I missed her at Thanksgiving.
29.I missed her on my birthday.
30.I missed her at Christmas.
31.I missed her on New Year’s Eve.
32.I missed her last Thursday.
33.You can find out if your World Racer is alive by stalking the social media accounts of the in-country base workers.
34.Her room is clean. Like, for the first time. Ever.
35.Turns out, Chelsea DID have all the scissors in the house in her room!
36.We spend less when we go to restaurants.
37.I miss taking her out to dinner.
38.I no longer have someone rolling their eyes at me when I get “trash corn” at the movies.
39.“Survivor” is not the same without Chelsea.
40.Based on the number of people who ask me how Chelsea is doing, she had a big impact at our church.
41.Sometimes on Saturday mornings, I still expect to see her sitting on the couch watching a Harry Potter movie for, like, the 79th time.
42.Wifi in Africa is the worst. Seriously … it’s the wooooooooorst!
43.I miss the Sea Pigs coming over (long story bro).
44.Chelsea’s graduation yard sign makes me either cry or smile whenever I drive into the garage and see it.
45.I don’t miss the “Chelsea angry face”.
46.My other daughters suck at Lego.
47.Redheads are the best!
48.Even with only two daughters at home, I still get their names wrong.
49.There is WAAAAYYY more hot water when I get in the shower now!
50.It’s pretty cool to learn that your kid is braver and stronger than you could ever have imagined.
Yep … I cried.
