Standing in the kitchen a few days into single fatherhood, a little over 14 years ago, These words echoed, "Daddy you were suppose to use a cup of milk." After rereading the directions on the back of the hamburger helper box, she was right. My cooking experience was VERY limited at that time and since she was only 9 years old hers was too. That night, supper turned out pretty good. A few days later, my first experience of cooking spaghetti didn't turn out so good. This time she was doing home work and I am cooking alone. After the hamburger fully cooked, I mixed the cooked hamburger together with the spaghetti; I forgot to drain the grease from the cooked hamburger! You can imagine what a mess that was. At that point, I think it dawned on her that she better learn to cook or we are all going to starve. From that day forward, at 9 years old she became the little lady of the house. She laid down the ground rules for the kitchen. Her attitude was "you may be the daddy, but this is my kitchen."Celeste Marie Warren…. today is her birthday she is 25 years old today. She has grown up to be very confident and I think she "likes herself." When she was little she would come home from school and announce her own arrivals by saying, "Celeste is home!" (True to her "liking herself" today on her Facebook she wishes herself a happy birthday.) At an early age she also learned how to stand her ground. When conflicts would occur with her two brothers and it appeared that she was losing the battle, she would cry…. and would eventually win the "war" because she knew daddy would come to her rescue. She also became "Ms. Independent" at an early age and to this day she will go and get what she wants despite the odds.
Happy Birthday Celeste! You have brought me so much joy and happiness. I am so proud to be your dad. You make my day, my week, my month, my year, and my life. I pray for the blessing of our Lord over your life that will make rich and add no sorrows. I pray all your dreams come true; a husband that will love you, many babies to follow, health and long life, wealth and prosperity, peace and happiness, joy unspeakable, and full of HIS glory. And finally, yes finally, I pray that I have lived the kind of life before you, and as you put the last flower over my grave, in your grief you can proudly say these words out loud, "Well done Daddy well done. You are a Father Forever and I will see you again on the other side."
I love you so much!
Dad
