“Jenn and her dad.” This is one of Travis’ (my husband’s) go-to phrases. He often says he can tell I’m on the phone with you just by how hard I’m laughing. That bond we share is one of the things I am most grateful for in life.

Blogging is not my forte, as you know, but I’m challenging myself to step into your world and love of blogging this Father’s Day as a more personal gift. I hope it passes the mark.

Most, by now, are familiar with your remarkable journey, but there is so much more to celebrate about your life. The ordinary-to-you things that probably haven’t registered as particularly noteworthy, but have shaped me and others tremendously and deserve to be celebrated today.

1. Core memory: our after-school walks in Vermont when I was new to the US and new to living with you. You had a routine of going for hour-long walks in the late afternoons and would bring me along. I distinctly remember jogging along to keep up with your power-walking. It was such a simple thing – bringing your daughter along while exercising – but it was such an important building block in the bond we now have. I remember you would ask about my day, as well as how things were going at school and with my transition to American life. It was an invitation to openness and candor and a signal that you cared about my experience and perspective, even as a young child. That has laid foundation for the open and close relationship we have today and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. One of my favorite ways to spend time together is still joining you on your long walks (thankfully I can keep up a bit better these days!).

2.  The way you parent: I have really appreciated the thoughtful approach you take to parenting. You are tough, but fair. You set extremely high standards for Patrick and me growing up, but did the diligence of explaining why those standards were where they were. You and mom made sure we understood what was required of us and why – and importantly, gave us agency to be our unique selves in living within the boundaries you had set. Perhaps my favorite thing, though, is the way you would discipline when we inevitably went off the rails. You would make us write multiple-page essays reasoning through why what we did was wrong and the steps we were going to take to hold ourselves accountable to doing better. I used to hate those assignments, but as an adult now, it strikes me as such a great way to ensure our young minds thought through and molded to the lessons you were trying to teach.

3. The values you live and have instilled through example: generosity, thoughtfulness, discipline, humility, personal growth, and ensuring we’re living a life that impacts others beyond ourselves. I can’t do this one justice in a blog, but I will just say what a privilege it has been to watch you live out every single one of these values. I think what I’ve been most in awe of the last few years is the vigor with which you are living and approaching life. Your passion and mission to make a difference in the world, your insatiable love of learning and growing, your relentless discipline in every area of life. And perhaps my personal favorite – the relationships you are forging with others far and wide. I’ll give a more personal example – the responsibility and personal stake you’ve taken in the provision for and wellbeing of Uncle Ohene’s family, after his passing. I know you have made him proud.

You are an inspiration. Thank you for giving me a front-seat view into a life well-lived and thank you for being the incredible father you are. Patrick and I are forever grateful and so proud to call you dad. Happy Father’s Day!