Christmas gift

When I was growing up, my dad always wrote a poem for my sisters, my mom, and I every Christmas. They were always so personalized to each of us, and we loved them! We always looked forward to hearing what he would write about us each year. My dad is so talented, and his love for his 4 daughters is so apparent. He hasn't written us poems in a few years, since we all started moving out/getting married, etc. So this year, I so lovingly asked my dad if he would write a poem for Camden. He was of course thrilled, and loved the idea, since he is Cam's Papa. I had asked him a few weeks ago, and completely forgot that I had. Until yesterday. After we were done opening gifts with my family, my dad said he had one more. He handed Wes and I a huge bag full of tissue paper from all the other gifts we had already opened. We all laughed, come on dad, what is this?! At the bottom of the "used" gift bag was a piece of paper with a poem on it. I instantly started crying. I knew this was going to be one sweet poem, and I couldn't wait to hear it. My dad read this poem, and I can not wait to frame it and hang it in Cam's room. There are a few things in the poem that relate to things he did with my sisters and I as young kiddos, so if you don't understand, that is why! :)

OH, THE WONDERFUL THINGS

Oh the wonderful things Cam and Papa can do,
We can go like a cow, we can go MOO-MOO.
We can read another Dr. Seuss Book,
Or take a day trip to the zoo.

Papa will teach you how to golf,
In buried cans we'll practice putt.
Or we can do our circus acts,
And show everyone our "huts".

Next we'll play Cops and Robbers,
You can put me into jail.
You may think I'm locked away,
But then I'll escape, I will.

We will wrestle until dinner,
(You cannot cry if you get hurt.)
You won't have to eat your broccoli,
We'll bake oatmeal cookies for dessert.

Then it's time for Papa stories,
Cam's imagination will run wild.
Stories about lonely caterpillars,
And growing up a poor black child.

And soon it's time to take Cam home,
Way too soon, that's a given
When Dad and Mom say "Cam Let's Go"
Just shut your eyes and you'll be hidden.

There's only so much that we can do,
In a single day.
But first I must ask my God above,
When can Cam come out and play?

Papa, Christmas 2009