First and Lasts

On November 1, 2022November 1, 2022 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, daughter, daughter date night, daughters, Fathers-Daughters, Graduation, Growing Up, Parenting4 Comments

As I sat on the tailgate of my daughters truck with her last night, a lot of emotions surfaced. How did this amazing young lady sitting beside me , a senior in high school, get this old, how did I get this old? How did she go from being Super Why, a werewolf, a zombie cowboy and all the others to studying psychology while we are handing out candy ?

How did we go from dressing up and walking the neighborhood trick or treating to sitting on the back of a tailgate handing out candy to other kids that their parents think they have all the time in the world?

They don’t.

You blink and it’s gone. You go from first steps and first words and first trick or treats to probably her last Halloween at home. And soon it’ll be her last Thanksgiving and last Christmas and her last year of school that I get to see her everyday.

First day of kindergarten to first day of Senior Year, first race to last cross country race, first concerts to hopefully not last concerts but I am sure friends will replace me, first game at Wrigley Field to, well we do have one more summer before college and hopefully some summers in between college years, first College Game Day at Ohio Stadium to, well there is a big game coming up in a few weeks so maybe College Game Day will be there and we will have one more.

Her first college acceptance official letter came today. The email came a few days ago. Another email came today accepting her to another school. And I’m sure in the next few days or weeks, or blinks of an eye, she will get accepted to the other three or four she’s applied to. It’s nice to have choices.

But we almost know for sure where she will go. Far enough away to not see her often but close enough where she can still come back home on a weekend, if she wants too.

But more than likely she won’t be coming home to the same house she left, the house she grew up in.

A lot of changes are coming our way. Some good, some not so good. Some happy, some sad.

But like a book, life has its beginnings and its different chapters that somehow all come together to make a wonderful story. And as all stories end, new beginnings begin.

But for now there’s still a few more chapters to read in this book. Then it’ll go up on the shelf of memories and another book will be opened up.

I really have enjoyed being the dad in this book. I am thankful.

Wish I Was Enough

On October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 By roberthansen1317In affairs, Christian life, daughters, divorce5 Comments

Drawing of a sad girl step by step || How to draw a sad girl easy

Here is a song I wrote the words to and was lucky enough to have Mikalyn Hay and her producer Chris Grey do all the hard work for me and turn it into a song. Be sure to check out Mikalyn on Youtube and Spotify and other streaming services for other music by her, she is very talented.

I was told I should use a stage name for this one so I chose Win Thomas, combination of two of my favorite characters in books I like to read, as my artist name.

But it is still me.

I am still in the process of trying to get it “out there” and send it to radio stations and all that.

For those of you with Spotify, here is a link for it as well. It is available on all streaming services across the world as well. Just search up artist name Win Thomas.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/7yXvM0a6D272jCwTQct5tG

If you like it, please feel free to share it.

Let me know what you think. I appreciate you taking the time to listen.

Break Down The Walls

On March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, daughter, Daughter of God, daughters, Fathers-Daughters, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

Image result for dad talking to daughter

Break down the walls

Keep your head high in the halls

It’s the finish, not the start

Always run with your heart

Take your time, go slow

He will never be called a ho

Always be honest, never lie

If that boy makes you cry

Don’t answer when he calls

Break down those walls

Life isn’t always easy

Raising a family is a lot of responsibility

Children can bring you joy

Make sure that man isn’t a boy

It takes a village to raise them

Make mistakes but don’t make them again

Setbacks and failures make you strong

Admit the truth when you are wrong

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When the city streets get cold

Take a drive out on a backroad

Always be your self

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Sit down with a good book

Learn to cook

Do your own laundry

Life isn’t always easy

When you are losing your mind

Remember to always be kind

Everyone is fighting their own war

I love you but God loves you more

Climb a mountain, swim in the ocean

Rest, but get back in motion

Drive through the fly over states

Life is short, don’t wait

When you need something to believe in

Remember that you are loved and forgiven

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Learn how to forgive

It is then you can truly live

There are people who suffer

Don’t make their life tougher

Always reach out with a helping hand

Against the wrongs, take a stand

When you think you’ve given it all

Give a little more and break down the walls

Smile more, worry less

Always do your best

Write poetry, sing out loud

Be humble but be proud

Slow down, take a deep breath

Smell the roses, it’s okay to rest

Watch the sunrise at dawn

Call your parents before their gone

Watch the beauty of a sunset

Give more when you have nothing left

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Watch the colors change on the leaves

Always follow your dreams

Go outside on a sunny day

Be like a child and dance in the rain

Put your phone down and look around

There are wonderful things to be found

Don’t be afraid of the quiet

Protect the climate

Plant a tree

Live free

Don’t do drugs

Give more hugs

You don’t have to be a star to shine

Don’t follow, lead the line

Always do what’s right

In the darkness, you can be the light

Fall slowly, love deep

Your promises always keep

Image result for dad talking to teenage daughter silhoutte

Don’t run before you crawl

Fight to get up when you fall

You’ll learn the most when you fail

Keep on running if you’re going through hell

When you lost your way

Keep your faith

Always have hope

I am here I hope you know

Learn to hit a curve-ball

Toss a pigskin in the fall

Don’t give in to peer pressure

Remember that you are a treasure

Be vulnerable, be strong

Problems never last long

Get on your knees and pray

Again, call your parents before it’s too late

Live a life with no regrets

You are loved, never forget

When it’s my time to go, let me go

Promise to keep the memories though

Always laugh, always love

Always hope, always trust

Listen for God’s call

And break down the walls

Image result for dad talking to daughter

What Will You Tell Her by Mickey Guyton-

Becoming Me by Matthew West –

Paving The Runway by JJ Heller-

Dear Me by Nichole Nordeman-

Hang In The Girl by Ashley McBride-

Dear Daughter by Halestorm-

Worthy by Indie.Arie-

Broken & Beautiful by Kelly Clarkson-

Girl In The Mirror by Bebe Rexha-

Future Me by Echosmith –

Impossible is Possible by Black Violin –

Homecoming Queen by Kelsea Ballerini-

Stronger by Fearless Soul-

Be The Change You Wisht To See by Fearless Soul-

She Calls Me Pops

On August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, daughters, Fathers-Daughters, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

I wrote this one awhile ago, thought I would repost it in case the last one was too dark for you.

She calls me Pops

And I call her Dots

I say I love you lots

She just smiles and walks away

One of those games she likes to play

But I know she loves me, even if she doesn’t say

We were close through the early years

Over football we bonded through the cheers

When we lost, we even shared a few tears

Two peas in a pod, we were thick as thieves

At night I would be on my knees

Praying to God don’t let her change, please

But now she says this is what teenagers do, we rebel

I say, ” But you are not a teenager, you are only twelve.”

Then she does an uugggh or some kind of tribal yell

But I know this time is only temporary

Because I’ve been through it before, her sisters and me

So I let it go and wait for the time when she will see

That good old pops was smarter than she thinks

And not everything I do really stinks

Because it will be over before she blinks

Then one day on her wedding day

I will be the one who gives my dots away

We’ll be on the dance floor when the music starts to play

She’ll look at me and say “hello pops”

And I’ll smile at her and say “hello dots”

Maybe, just maybe, she will say I love you lots

Related image

Short Are The Years by Jason Crabb-

Slow Down by Nichole Nordeman-

Fast by Luke Bryan –

My Last Breath by Black Stone Cherry-

Female by Keith Urban –

Woman, Amen by Dierks Bentley –

Gracie by Ben Folds-

Daughters

On October 26, 2015October 26, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Daughter of God, daughters, music, You are beautiful4 Comments

I have four daughters and two grand-daughters. I have tried to get the words together about women and self-esteem and about being loved and accepted by God but I can’t seem to get out what I want to say. I did remember reading something a long time ago on Facebook and I couldn’t recall where I saw it. I looked on Boundless and Proverbs 31 but nothing. I searched and searched and just when I was about to give up, my wife had a Facebook memory come up two days ago and guess what was on it? The thing I was looking for that she had shared so now I know what the site is and where to look. Yes, it is amazing how God works. Just when I was about to give up my search, there it was. Anyway, it is called the Loop and I think every woman should read their posts just to know who they are in God.

Here it is:

You are Beautiful

My daughter, you are the one I made. You are the one I crafted. You are the one I adorn with garlands, with beauty I see, with beauty that sweeps Me off my feet.

I love you.

And there is not guilt and cost and expectation in it. I love you because I do. You can’t alter it. You can’t change Me. You are what I have made, and I love what I have made.

Look up now, not down. I mean this:

I love you.

Like this.

How you are.

Right now.

There is nothing to chase down, my love. There is nothing to earn or improve or repair. I create. I heal what I have made. Let me lean in, place my hand upon your heart.

I was there when you believed, for the first time, you weren’t beautiful. I was there, the second time, and the next time, too. I want you to know, I was there.

I was there when my daughter, whom I crafted, whom I adore, whom I formed and designed and shape ever still, believed she was less than what she should be. Less perfect, less valued, less worthy than. . . Less than whom? Less than what, my daughter?

You are beautiful because I made you. You are exquisite because I shaped you. You are worthy because I say so. I chose you. I chose to make you.

You.

And daughter, I don’t make mistakes.

My love, hold my hand. See how I extend it to you, and I love to be with you.

My beautiful one.

My daughter.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:14).