During a recent visit, Graham Porter's Prairie Village house was full of balloons. He had two reasons to celebrate. First, he had just saluted a birthday, his 94th. Second, he had published a new book this past year, at the age of 93.

Daughters' Day: A Father's Memories of Tender Moments is a compilation of earlier writings, journal entries, reflections, and notes from Porter's years of parenting four daughters, now ranging in age from 50 to 61.

"I write about all sorts of things we did together as a family," Porter said. "A parent would be wise to make notes as things happen—but of course there's usually no time for that."

Time has always been a precious commodity for Porter. His creative career began in earnest when he retired from banking and devoted himself to writing, photography, and painting. In years past he contributed regularly to Reader's Digest and authored a national bestseller, Small Wonder, as well as several other books, including Lochinvar, chosen by The Chicago Tribune as the Best Humor Book of the Year. He traveled extensively and turned to photography as a way to capture his memories visually, ultimately perfecting a technique to turn his photographs into paintings with a distinctive impressionistic look.

But what gave him perhaps the most pride of all was being the father of four daughters.

"I don't think any father is as lucky as I've been," he said.

His book underlines the fact that "Boys are fun, but only the father of girls can unashamedly open the floodgates of his heart as often and as liberally as he pleases."

For the past 20 years, since the death of his wife, Mary (the girls' mother), Porter and his daughters have gathered each year for what came to be known as "Daughters' Day." Only one daughter lives in the area, in nearby Fairway. The others live in Maryland, Colorado, and California. But they have made it a point to reunite with their father and each other at least once a year. They look forward to it as a time when they can share their lives and relive some of their best moments as a family, "in joyful celebration of a half century of happy connection," as Porter writes in his book's introduction.

Porter's face beamed as he explained why he worked so hard to complete the book and see it published: He wanted it to be a tribute to his daughters, as well as an inspiration for parents everywhere.

Too often, Porter believes, dads are disappointed if they don't have a son to carry on the family name. His book makes it clear that, by the birth of his fourth daughter, six years after the third, "Wishing for a son had become only my public façade. Serving as father to little girls was now not only my stock in trade, but my full time happiness."

Porter finds it relaxing to write. Since he finds writing by hand physically difficult, he dictates his notes and other thoughts into a recorder and has them transcribed. He encourages others to collect notes and family memorabilia, and write a little each day.

In addition to his book, one of his paintings—based on a photograph of his two oldest daughters when they were children—was printed in the national AARP Calendar for 2011, and a song (he composed both the music and lyrics) was recently sung by a soloist at his church.

"It has been a productive year," Porter said.

What projects are under way for next year?

"I'm going to focus more on the visual," he said. "It's been awhile since I've had a showing of my art work. I'm looking forward to that."

He also looks forward, of course, to celebrating another Daughters' Day.

Graham Porter's book Daughters' Day: A Father's Memories of Tender Moments ($10.50, paperback) may be ordered from local bookstores or online from www.Amazon.com.