Today is my oldest daughter’s birthday. I cannot believe that it has been over two decades that I was in that labor room in the Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah.  I remember it was a blustery Autumn day.

I found my journal entry that I made back on October 16, 1983. I was 23 years old, a first time dad.

” On this beautiful Sunday, our first child was born. At 11:40 a.m. our daughter was born. She has a lot of brown hair. She is cute and pretty. She weighed 6 lbs 9 oz. and was 19 inches in length.  The whole labor process was sobering and fascinating. I have a new respect for mothers. How proud I was of my dear wife. She was able to go through the whole process to have our first child.

Friends came over to visit us. What a special day. She sure is a gem. She was sent from Heavenly Father to us. Oh, daughter, we hope we will be the kind of parents who will help you reach all your possibilities by teaching you right and loving you.”

I remember the awkward first few days when we took her home adjusting to the realization that we had a little person who was totally dependent on us. I felt the natural fatherhood instinct to provide set upon me and also the protectiveness I had for my little girl. She stole my heart right away.

Many years have passed. Life brought its challenges.  Our daughter had an additional 3 siblings that came along later.  Her mother and I divorced when she was a teenager.  I came out of the closet. Life was difficult for a time and had some very low moments.

Somehow we have all been able to navigate through it intact with the love we have for each other. She and I are particularly close. She has been supportive of me and we have been able to forge a stronger relationship in her adulthood.

I called her today to wish her a happy birthday.  We chatted. We have the same disposition and same sense of humor. It is easy to talk to to each other. She is very open to me and I think her current boyfriend may eventually be the one she will marry. It’s just a feeling I am getting. I just want her to be happy.

This daughter who came into the world as a little angel of a thing has turned into a beautiful woman inside and out. She has certainly been tested by the trials of life but has gained a wisdom and maturity well beyond her years. She still smiles when she sees her daddy. Her daddy’s heart still melts the same way he did the first day he saw her on her first birthday.

A Daughter Through The Eyes Of A Father

A daughter is beauty at its finest.

Heart of an angel, soul so pure, and sweet.

Daughters are one of God’s most precious gifts that he has bestowed upon the world.

Angels in Heaven do not compare to thine beauty, and grace my ever so beautiful, and lovely daughter.

Seeing you at birth brought more joy to me

than all the money in the world could ever do.

You are morning, bright, and shining,

you are noon, you reside at the highest point in my heart,

you are the dew kissed night.

You are my daughter, heart, and soul.

Velmar Pewee Hale Johnson