Our Story ( A little bit of it)

Our story. 2002.

Jeff was a widower with a son.

I was divorced with a daughter.

We met. Fell in love. And decided to take a shot at combining our families and our histories.

If you are part of a blended family, you know that it is not a natural or easy thing to do. 

It is filled with complications. 

If you are the adults combining the family, it's hard. 

If you are the children involved, it's hard. 

It's just hard. 

It's emotional. 

You never really "arrive" with a blended family in my opinion. 

There will always be new roads to navigate. 

There will always be reminders that you did not come together under "typical" conditions.

However, with a lot of time, sweat, tears, and patience, you become a family. 

You become a group of people who have shared a passage of time together, who bond in uncommon ways, and who find love and appreciation for each other. 

You think it will never happen when you are going through the nitty gritty of it all.

 You are positive that you are doing it all wrong and that you are screwing everyone up. 

You live with guilt and worry about what the future will hold for all involved. 

Gut wrench comes and goes like waves.

Dramatic but true. 

However, one day, twenty two years later, your daughter is getting ready to have her first child. Her husband is out of town for the weekend and she wants to get her nursery painted. 

And who shows up to get the job done? 

This (beautifully) blended family of hers shows up eagerly and without question to help. 

Excited to be together.

Here we are yesterday. Ready to work.

The original gangsters, the OGs. 2024.

Yesterday my heart was filled with gratitude and joy. 

It was hard to not recognize that although Jeff and I didn't do 

all of the "blending" perfectly, 

we did the best we could and it has paid off.

We showed up day after day consistently.   

We didn't quit.

We fell and got back up. 

We celebrated the highs and we learned from the lows. 

Until eventually, there were more wins than losses. 

One of the hugest wins was adding another child to our beautiful, messy mix.

This new baby completed us as a family.

Our family continues to grow. 

In March we gained a son-in-law and in January we will celebrate the birth of a new baby. 

 

What is my point in this share?

A few things:

1. God always has a plan for us. His timing. His way. But it will always be a good plan. Always.

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to give you hope and a future'". 

Jeremiah 29:11

2. "Progress over perfection" is a motto to live by.

3. Consistency WILL pay off!  Show up! Take action!

4. Live your dash (the line between a person's date of birth and their date of death) with no regrets. Live a life being mindful of your actions, create healthy habits, and eliminate what is not serving you.

5. Pay attention to people that care. Who are always there. Who want better for you. 

They're your people. Hug them! A two-armed hug!

6. That which does not kill us makes us stronger (and braver).