My wife and kids recently returned home from a 7-day vacation. I will never forget the welcome home embrace that my little 2-year old girl gave me. It was a 10 minute snuggle into my neck, and while she burrowed in, I felt her truly missing me for that entire week.

These feelings are human, and real. I live for moments like this with loved ones. It is a human need as urgent as life itself.

I guarantee that you will cry (if you are human) within the first minute of this video. To the soldiers that are coming home, I salute you, and hope that your days back in the states are peaceful, loving and as compassionate as a welcome home hug from a loved one.

And, THANK YOU for your service!!!

“Treaties are like roses and young girls — they last while they last“ - Charles De Gaulle

I am the father of a beautiful little girl, and I have spent much time with her this 4th of July weekend. She is has grown so much in 2 years, (her 2nd birthday is coming up in August).

This quote makes me sad, not because of the political implication that treaties are made to be broken, but more so because of the fact that little girls, like my daughter will only be little for a short period of time. I love her the way she is now, walking, talking, and learning something new everyday. She has a cute little smile, and is so eager to be a part of everything our family does. She follows, and learns, and laughs.

Just yesterday, we played our first game of catch using a Minnesota Twins foam stuffed baseball. It took her awhile to figure out how to place her little hands in front of her like a basket, but once she did, the ball dropped in and she was very excited.

“I did it daddy!” she screeched in pure jubilation, running to me for that daddy “acknowledgement” and approval that she craves so much. After we hugged like a pennant clinching major league baseball team, we played a few more rounds of catch, and then moved on to another play time project.

I will never again get to experience the first game of catch with her, but there will be plenty more of firsts for her as life goes on. It is moments like this that I crave, and quite frankly is one of favorite things about being a daddy.

But as I reflect on them, I realize that life, like a treaty, is not meant to be permanent.

I love being a daddy.