father's day hasn't always been one of my favorite holidays,
until more recently. growing up, i didn't know my real father
and my step-dad wasn't exactly the best father figure.
he and my mom divorced when i was ten.
a few years later she met Mark.
until more recently. growing up, i didn't know my real father
and my step-dad wasn't exactly the best father figure.
he and my mom divorced when i was ten.
a few years later she met Mark.
he immediately accepted me as his own
and has always been there for me.
and has always been there for me.
we've had our rough moments but
i can't imagine my life without him.
he became a good friend to me as i entered
into adulthood but has never been afraid to tell me
when i need to straighten up.
he is a hardworking, funny, smart and kind man.
into adulthood but has never been afraid to tell me
when i need to straighten up.
he is a hardworking, funny, smart and kind man.
i am so thankful
that he is in my life and is my children's loving Grandpa.
another excellent example of a father,
in my life, has been my own Grandpa.
he was always ALWAYS there for me and my family.
back when it was just my mom and i
(long before Mark and my brothers and sister)
back when it was just my mom and i
(long before Mark and my brothers and sister)
we lived with him and my Grandma off and on
and he treated me as his own child.
he taught me how to write my name,
how to ride a bike and how to draw.
he read me stories as a small child,
took me to the zoo and for walks in the rain.
and he treated me as his own child.
he taught me how to write my name,
how to ride a bike and how to draw.
he read me stories as a small child,
took me to the zoo and for walks in the rain.
he was one of the smartest, most caring,
humble men i have ever known.
humble men i have ever known.
i know that no one in this world is perfect,
but my grandpa was pretty darn close.
but my grandpa was pretty darn close.
my husband {Chester} and i have a bit of a unique story
of how we met and how (quickly) we were married.
i'll share that with you a different time,
but today i feel compelled to tell you about
how my husband became a father.
of how we met and how (quickly) we were married.
i'll share that with you a different time,
but today i feel compelled to tell you about
how my husband became a father.
we met on Thursday, November 6th of 2008
on what was basically a blind date.
we hit it off {obviously} and the next night,
on what was basically a blind date.
we hit it off {obviously} and the next night,
after we were both off of work, he came out to meet my family
(mom, dad, brothers, sister)
and my son {Bailey} who was going to be a year old
on the 9th of that month. i don't remember much about
that night other than oogling
over my new-found heart throb.
the next day, Chester returned to my side of town.
(mom, dad, brothers, sister)
and my son {Bailey} who was going to be a year old
on the 9th of that month. i don't remember much about
that night other than oogling
over my new-found heart throb.
the next day, Chester returned to my side of town.
{a 40 mile trip}
to take Bailey and i to meet his parents and siblings.
it was a great day.
his family was so sweet, kind and accepting of us.
it was a great day.
his family was so sweet, kind and accepting of us.
it felt like home.
the next day was Bailey's very first birthday.
Chester drove all the way back out to my side of town,
sleep deprived and just about broke from all the
Chester drove all the way back out to my side of town,
sleep deprived and just about broke from all the
driving back and forth,
just to make it to this little boy's birthday party.
just to make it to this little boy's birthday party.
Chester was surrounded by people he
had just barely met, but the whole time,
had just barely met, but the whole time,
he was happy and friendly
and his attention was focused on Bailey.
and his attention was focused on Bailey.
he helped open gifts and played
all day long with him.
after a fun celebration and
{lots}
of birthday cake devouring on the part of my son,
all day long with him.
after a fun celebration and
{lots}
of birthday cake devouring on the part of my son,
i put Bailey to bed in my room upstairs.
when i came back down,
Chester was snoring on the couch.
i woke him up and figured he would get up
and make the long trip home, but we ended up talking
into the early morning hours.
i had the baby monitor on during this time
and at one point we heard a strange noise.
i went to check on my son and he was throwing up.
he had way too much birthday cake . . .
when i came back down,
Chester was snoring on the couch.
i woke him up and figured he would get up
and make the long trip home, but we ended up talking
into the early morning hours.
i had the baby monitor on during this time
and at one point we heard a strange noise.
i went to check on my son and he was throwing up.
he had way too much birthday cake . . .
. . . {sugar overload!}
and just couldn't seem to quit throwing up.
i swept him up out of the bed and took
him downstairs where this tired man stood . . .
who gladly accepted this sick child into his arms.
he held him, sang to him and comforted him . . .
completely drenched in baby vomit.
as silly as it sounds, that was the moment that
i truly fell in love with Chester.
this young man, who had no children of his own,
stood there, caring for this little child,
him downstairs where this tired man stood . . .
who gladly accepted this sick child into his arms.
he held him, sang to him and comforted him . . .
completely drenched in baby vomit.
as silly as it sounds, that was the moment that
i truly fell in love with Chester.
this young man, who had no children of his own,
stood there, caring for this little child,
rocking him and singing to him,
letting him cry and throw up on him,
letting him cry and throw up on him,
completely enveloping him in love.
i knew, at that very moment,
he was meant to be the father of my children.
he was meant to be the father of my children.
that was one of the most selfless examples
of parenthood i have ever witnessed.
Bailey will never doubt
the love his father has for him.
each day, i am just in awe at what a
wonderful dad Chester is to our kids.
wonderful dad Chester is to our kids.
there is no difference in his love between
Bailey and his own {our daughter Chloe and son, Porter}.
sometimes i forget that he wasn't there
Bailey and his own {our daughter Chloe and son, Porter}.
sometimes i forget that he wasn't there
for the first year of Bailey's life.
he plays with him,
tickles him and loves him every day.
he's amazing with all three of our kids and
each day they just about jump through
the roof in excitement when daddy comes home from work.
he plays with him,
tickles him and loves him every day.
he's amazing with all three of our kids and
each day they just about jump through
the roof in excitement when daddy comes home from work.
sometime ago,
a song came out that touched
my heart in the deepest of ways.
a song came out that touched
my heart in the deepest of ways.
it embodies what my husband is to
Bailey and it also explains how i feel
Bailey and it also explains how i feel
toward my dad, Mark. please watch . . .
here are the lyrics:
He Didn't Have To Be (Brad Paisley)
When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run
I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old
He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go
A few months later I remember lying there in bed
I overheard him pop the question and prayed that she'd say yes
And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
I met the girl that's now my wife about three years ago
We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin' more
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends
Crowded 'round the nursery window as they bring the baby in
And now all of a sudden
It seemed so strange to me
How we've gone from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man
That's standin' next to me
And I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
Because he didn't have to be
You know he didn't have to be
Happy Father's Day to all the
wonderful fathers out there.
Life is sweeter because of you.
Oh Kari, Thanks for sharing this! You have to love a man who lets your baby throw up on him!!! What a sweet, sweet story! I am wiping my tears!
ReplyDeleteLoved the video and song. What a perfect song for you and your family! (and that Brad Paisley is one pretty man!)
Love you!
That was absolutely beautiful! We really are blessed! (this is not Mandy, it's Mom. I don't know how to post a comment on here in my own name)
ReplyDeleteWow, I love your story about your husband and Bailey! I'm crying right now. And I love that song! I'm so glad that you have been blessed to have these men in your life who "didn't have to be" the great fathers that they are.
ReplyDelete