I’ve never met you, but I love you with all my heart. I’ve never seen your face, but I adore everything about you. I’ve never heard your voice, but I will care for you for the rest of my life. I am your dad, and you are my daughter.

Update: she was born June 17th, 2017 at 7:30a. The day before Father’s Day!

Your name is Melaya, which means free. The Bible says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” and it’s absolutely true, because God revealed your name to mom only weeks after we met.

Your Name

Here’s what mom says: the story behind your name I believe is fate, and one of my very early memories with your dad. It was the first early date I had with him in a Mexican theme park. We were walking and talking, though I was also day-dreaming and all of a sudden, the sound “Melaya” came to my head.

Dad: I heard her say it out loud a few times, until I asked what are you saying? She and I had actually only known each other a few weeks. Eventually she confessed she liked the way it sounded. She said, “doesn’t that make a lovely baby name?” Then, she grabbed my phone to write it down.