A long time ago in New York City, Steven Addis stood on a corner holding his 1-year-old daughter in his arms, and his wife snapped a photo. That image inspired an annual father-daughter ritual, where Addis and his daughter pose for the same picture, on the same corner, each year.

In this video, Addis shares 15 treasured photographs from the series, and explores why this small, repeated ritual means so much.” One of the most important things we all make…are memories,” he says.

Give yourself a few minutes to watch the story. Simple and effective way to creative memories.

What simple ways do you creative memories with your daughter?

The bride’s father Mark passed away earlier in the year from pancreatic cancer. Knowing her wedding reception was coming soon, her brother recorded “Butterfly Kisses” so her father/daughter dance would be extra special, despite the absence of her father. Andrea’s first dance is with her paternal grandfather, followed by her brother Luke, then brother Nick, and finally her new father-in-law Scott.

Kudos to Mark for raising his children well: a daughter who clearly adores him, and two sons who clearly share the perspective that daughters are treasured. What a beautiful tribute to the bride and her father.

How far into video did you make it until you lost it like I did?

Remember when you had the vantage point of knowing who or what was behind the soon-to-be victim, and you scream at the screen “LOOK BEHIND YOU!!”

Remember that? Here’s a version of that same scenario with a less gorey yet even more horrifying result.

Something to keep in mind should we find ourselves in this kind of conversation and this kind of choice before us. Look behind you!

Honest questions for consideration…

Have you experienced this horrified look on your daughter’s face?
Does it still haunt you?
How is your relationship now?

I admit this is difficult for me to watch because my daughter’s face is very similar to Bernice’s. Though I’ve never considered walking out, this scene moved me deeply, and I hope it connects with you on a deep level too. What does this movie clip say to you?

I know, I know. I’m aware of Disney’s critics over the years, and I’ve even sided with them from time to time. Our three-year-old princess is familiar with many of the Disney characters, even the ones we don’t want to influence her at this stage of her life (Hi, Ariel), BUT this video pretty much sums it all up.

“I Am A Princess.” We are keepers of those princesses. May we keep them well. Long may they reign.

I admired my dad and prayed that someday I would meet a man who would take care of me the way my father did. I prayed that man would be a reflection of, not only my earthly father, but also of my Heavenly Father.

Photo courtesy of Heidi Crace-Dodd

Dad always told me I deserved the best, and that I should never settle. He set a standard for my life to which I held myself accountable for many years. Growing up in a strong Christian home with morals and values kept me out of trouble for most of my life. I was taught that drinking, taking drugs, and having sex before marriage was something a beautiful young woman didn’t do. I followed that standard all through my teenage years and into my adulthood until one day I met a man that changed my life.

He was handsome and witty. He knew the right words to say to make me believe I was all he ever needed. He reminded me of my father. Finally, I believed I had met the man I had been praying for all my life.

We married in 1998 and began our life together. My father was always my rock, and that never changed when I married; I could talk to dad about anything. Little did I know that the man I married was not like the father I loved with all my heart. Even with the knowledge instilled in me as a little girl, I opened the door for Satan to come in and take hold of my life.

The idea of having a glass of wine with dinner was appealing to me and my husband had grown up to believe this was acceptable. Because of my love for my husband and a deep desire to please him, I rationalized that drinking wouldn’t be an issue and, therefore, I began consuming alcohol.

My father never once left my side or judged me for my behavior. He became the only person I could be open enough with to try and get help.

Within my twelve years of marriage, I suffered two miscarriages, gave birth to twin boys, endured verbal, emotional, and mental abuse, and became a drug addict and alcoholic.

During all this pain I had been feeling and trying to hide, my father never once left my side or judged me for my behavior. He became the only person I could be open enough with to try and get help. My husband’s abandonment emotionally caused me to feel isolated and alone, which caused me to reach out for the one thing that quickly relieved the pain.

Photo courtesy of Heidi Crace-Dodd

My father reminded me that using alcohol and drugs as a way of escape was not only wrong spiritually, but that it would lead to more pain and hurt than I could endure. He helped reminded that I was a beautiful child of God and that he would do whatever he needed to do to get me the help to recover my life.

In the end, I lost it all…including my husband, my marriage, and even my children, but I never lost my dad. He proved to be the rock I needed to conquer a stronghold that had stolen everything from me. Dad never doubted who I was inside or stopped seeing the beauty God created, the beauty he saw the first time he laid eyes on me in that hospital 40 years ago.

I have learned from my father that you do not have to enable the behavior a loved one displays, but you can love them through the pain and show by example what grace and forgiveness is really all about.

For me and my father, grace and forgiveness have been the tools that grounded and fertilized our relationship. Because of this, I have been able to find freedom from my addictions and have a second chance at being the mother, sister, friend, and most importantly daughter that my father believed God promised him all those years ago.

My father chose to believe not what he saw standing before him, but chose to believe the promise God had for my life. Because of dad’s faith, that promise is being fulfilled every day, and the legacy that was created by my father will continue on through me to my children. I can only say that my father is my hero, my biggest fan, and my rock. I cannot live, and would not be alive today, without my father holding onto that promise.

Chy’s mother contacted senior Carson Jones, the team’s quarterback, through a mutual connection simply to learn the names of the girls bullying her daughter, and Carson took the initiative to lunch with Chy every day and ensured she had a front of protection around her as she walked the halls.

See the full story from Marie Saavedra of News Channel 3 KTVK from Phoenix, AZ in this video.

Kudos to Carson Jones and his teammates for their leadership and taking a stand to protect Chy and squelch bullying. Now that’s a great example of a strong Princess Keeper that reaches beyond the father/daughter relationship.

We’re proud of you, gentlemen. Your influence will resonate with Chy Johnson for years and years to come.