Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Father and Daughter

I know Art hoped for a son when I learned that we would be welcoming our first child.  However, from the moment Art saw his daughter he was entranced.


We both were.

We could hardly believe this little person, this little miraculous creation was ours.

Granted, the ordeal of that birth left Tiffany very red and swollen so she wasn't pretty to look at.

This photo was taken when she was about two months old.



By the time Tiffany was about 9 months old she had us wrapped around her finger.  Tiffany was the first grandchild on both sides of the family and we were taking her to Hawaii to meet all her relatives.  Art's dad would proudly carry his granddaughter up and down the main street of Honokaa to show her off.



There wasn't anything that Art would not do for his little girl.  Every smile was a blessing, every tear a stab to the heart.

The years do fly by though and we couldn't keep her to ourselves.


Giving her away was probably one of the hardest things Art had to do.


I was looking through old photos and came across this one.  It was that unexpected moment of seeing father and daughter coming down the aisle when suddenly emotion crashed down on me and tears started to stream down my face.  My friends were looking back at me to share the joy and were surprised to realize what had happened.  I had no tissue on me so they all rummaged through their purses to send them up to mop my face.



Although it wasn't easy to understand that Tiffany was on her own path now, something happened to brighten our days.

Several years later KC was born.

And Art was entranced.

23 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I love reading your stories.

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  2. Such wonderful, sweet photos. I am so thrilled to be able to know your family through the incredible magic of the internet. I feel like you are an old friend whose journey through life is one I'm privileged to share.

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  3. tears in my eyes, beautiful memories you are so lucky.

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  4. Babies bring their own love and you know you've done a good job when they grow up and leave to make their own way through life - but always come back . . .

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  5. what a beautiful post, brought tears to my eyes, so tender so loving, as it should be, Tiffany was blessed as well as you and Art,

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  6. What a lovely journey with pictures. Art's new jeans are nice, too.

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  7. The part in all weddings where father gives away daughter and later when they have a dance reduces me to a big puddle every time. There is no relationship like father and daughter. How sweet that now Art has another sweet baby to hold his heart. Beautiful post.

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  8. What wonderful photos. Like Joanne who replied, I also noticed that the "younger" Art's jeans were well worn being frugal long before hippies were in vogue, and that "Grandpa Art" had some newer jeans. Hmmmm, wonder if he's like my son, who won't get new clothes until they're worn out. Hooray for KC: she encouraged Art to get his 2nd pair of jeans! Mahalo for sharing! DrumMajor

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  9. My oldest nephew was the first child on both sides of his family (easy for his maternal as his mom was a only child), he was spoiled rotten until his brother came along. He's 4 now, and he's got 1 brother, and at least 3 cousins (2 cousins are from his dad's half-siblings not related to me) with another cousin on the way.

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  10. Now you have me crying. Happy but sentimental tears.
    K

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  11. Lovely and little Tiffany is a jewel. Thanks, Dianne

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  12. Just lovely. I had tears too.

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  13. Many of your blog entries would make wonderful little illustrated booklets with commentary that you could use for all sorts of important occasions.

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  14. I loved seeing these photos, but I also felt a tug at my heart when you wrote of the day when Art had to give Tiffany away. I know the feeling that you had in your heart too. I remember wanting to break down and sob when I say my daughter walk down the aisle on her father's arm on her wedding day. Thankfully, I didn't let a tear fall because I knew I would sob. She was a beautiful bride, that daughter of yours that is the delight of Art's heart. Now he has another delight.

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  15. This brought tears to my eyes....awwwwwww

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  16. Art sounds like a remarkable man. Nothing like the special relationship between a dad and his daughter. Even sweeter with a granddaughter.
    Yes, I'm back to blogging and with a new blog.

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  17. Hi Kay,

    Today's blog reminds me of the song by Heartland--"I Loved Her First." Beautiful blog and beautiful song. Holly

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  18. Bittersweet comes to mind....the joy and sense of loss all at the same time. Not many moments in life come close to that experience.

    L...w

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  19. What a lovely post, Kay. Daughters are very special to their Daddies, and you have a very special family.

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  20. Oh, those little girls do take your heart. I get those teary times too when looking at photos! Lovely.

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  21. Oh Kay, you are making ANOTHER Kay wipe away the tears!
    What a beautiful daughter AND granddaughter you both have!! xx

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  22. Oh, such moving photos. Art didn't look old enough to be a father in the first pictures. :)

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