Happy Father's Day

Once upon a time a girl met a great guy.  They went on a couple of dates.  On about the third date the girl asked the question.   It was an important question, meant to weed out people.  "Hey, I really want to adopt children when I get married.  I was adopted and I'm not too sure I am able to have kids so this is super important to me.  How do you feel about this?"

Talk about a loaded gun.  The girl had asked the question before to other guys.  They beat a trail real quick so she learned to ask it early on before she got too attached.  This guy was different.  Without missing a beat he looked at the girl and said, "I don't have a problem with that at all."  The girl had to make sure her hearing was working.  But it was and she really started to like that guy.  Enough to get married and settle down.

Flash forward a few years.  Her friends and family were popping out kids like rabbits and sure enough she was unable to have kids.  She timidly approached her husband again.  She saw beautiful children in China that needed families.  Her friends had adopted from China.  He quietly said to her, "What about the kids here?  Don't they need families too?"  Those words sealed their destiny.

It wasn't easy.  They went through and were approved to adopt in Florida.  Then they relocated back to Virginia.  And found out that you had to start the process ALL over again.  There were many days that they were both frustrated.  But they kept going.  And on one cold Virginia winter they became parents for the first time to a bright eyed, tow haired little boy.

He was daddy's little man right from the start.  Sure mama was great and all but it was daddy who this little boy tottered after.  He followed him around mimicking all that he did and wanted to be just like him.

Flash forward a few years later.  The couple was told that there was a little girl.  She had a lot of challenges and that no one wanted her.  It would take a very special family to raise her.  The girl was nervous about meeting her.  Not the guy.  He reached right in, scooped her up and said, "That's daddy's little girl."

She was chubby, pink, and nestled right in.  She calls him Dah.  Once again mama takes a back seat. Luckily, she has pretty decent self esteem and a good sense of humor.

The girl has watched this amazing relationship grow between the guy and their children.  She has learned that it doesn't take much to have kids but it takes a lot to raise another guys kids.  Especially when those kids have lots of disabilities.  It takes patience, a sense of humor, and a lot of love.

Like flowers the children are growing and thriving.  The little boy is an active 8 year old who still follows daddy everywhere.

 The little girl still thinks Dah is superman and expects to be treated like royalty at all times by him.

This girl is incredibly happy.  I found an amazing husband, father, and friend.  It hasn't always been an easy journey, but it has been an amazing one.  Happy Father's Day Shannon.