Happy 70th Birthday, FIL!

FIL: Father-In-Law.

Richard Johnson is my father-in-law, my FIL. I'm his DIL (get it?)

He just celebrated his 70th Birthday in Yorba Linda, CA with a great group of friends and family present. I was unable to attend. . . but Mike made it and had a super visit with his family. (It snowed in Seattle every night he was gone. He slept on the beach. Not even fair.)

He made his Dad an amazing portrait in pencil of himself and his Dad about 20 years ago. Both Mike and his Dad were wearing their uniforms (Richard: Navy. Mike: Army). As Mike was working on the portrait, I was amazed at how realistic and exact the portrait of his father looked. When it came to his own face, however, I kept saying, "Something's just not right." I finally figured out what it was: Mike's face was WAY to young and it just didn't look right. I told him to add some more wrinkles around the eyes, and "voila!" There he was! 20 years makes more of a difference in the 19 year old than in the 50 year old. That, it seems, it both good news and bad news to those of us on this side of 50.

I really love Richard and I have been blessed to know him for about 17 years now. He's been a really consistent and present source of Fatherly love in my life. He's honored me with his respect and he's challenged me with his example. I once said about him, "Wow! You can teach an old dog new tricks!" (Sorry FIL!) But he is a man who continues to grow, mature, submit his heart and life to Jesus and change more and more into that which God has called him.