Everyone pictures the person they are going to marry. For girls, we imagine the kind of man he will be, the kind of husband, and father he will be. When I pictured this, I could have never imagined my husband being this amazing of a father or step-father. I never thought I'd be told the words "Blood doesn't make a family, love does."
You're the best father our sweet babies could ever ask for. You come home from a long day of work, pick them up and love them. You take the time to play with them, enjoy them, and let them know they are loved. You bust your butt every single day to give them the best life they could ever ask for. A daddy is a girl's first love. You show both our daughters what this is. You are showing them the kind of man they deserve. You're showing our son the kind of man he needs to become. I know there are days you wish you could escape and that you think you're crazy for only being twenty-three and having three children. But I see nothing wrong with this at all. We may have started our family young. You want to teach our son how to place baseball, you want to teach our daughters how to ride a bike. A father like you is perfect.
I was terrified when we first started this relationship. I was bringing a little girl into the life of a single man with no kids. You'd have to understand why I was terrified. But, that day when you came to see us and you rocked her to sleep, I had been trying for hours to get her to go to sleep. You managed to do it in five minutes. From that moment on, the love you showed for her only grew. The love she showed for you took me by surprise. She wanted to do everything you did. You let a little two-foot tall baby girl tag along. You held her hand as you walked. Little did I know, that little hand had a strong grasp on your heart. You didn't have to grow up, you didn't have to accept her, but you did. You let your heart love her. You let yourself take her in as your own. For this, I'm so thankful. A father like you is rare.
When I showed you that positive pregnancy test, I was terrified. I was scared you wouldn't want this. Another child, so young? No way. But you pulled me into your arms and told me we would make it work. You smiled and kissed me and said you couldn't wait. We dealt with a lot, it was a stressful time. But we made it through everything. At that ultrasound, you nervously watched the screen. When the little human inside me showed up, all you could do was squeeze my hand and smile. I wondered if you said words if you'd cry, and it was clear by your face that you just might. You stood beside me through every pain I dealt with. The constant appointments, the stress, all of it you were right there holding my hand through it. When we welcomed our sweet baby boy into this world and the cord was around his neck, you couldn't look. You just buried your head into my shoulder and tried to stay strong. You knew I needed you in that moment. A father like you is strong.
She isn't my child by blood, no. But, I have been there for the longest. I remember when you told me she was on her way. You were scared I'd leave. That was so silly of you. I was bringing a child into this relationship with you, why couldn't you? You then told me if I ever expected you to abandon your child, this wouldn't work. I remember trying so hard not to laugh. It was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. I'd never expect you to abandon your child. You stood beside her mother, and now a year later you have been in her life the best you can. A split family is hard, but you try your hardest to make it work. You try your hardest to be a part of your daughter's life. Even if it means putting up an act for certain things in order to be apart of certain events of her life. You didn't run away from your child. You stood beside her mother and have helped the best you can. A father like you is a blessing.
When I asked you to move fourteen hours away with me, away from your daughter, I was terrified. I didn't know if you'd go. But you looked at me and said you would make it work. You'd still be a part of her life the best you could, even fourteen hours away. You knew why I needed to go. You understood why I needed to be there. You agreed it was the best thing for our little family. Even though it meant we would be far away from one of our family members, we agreed to go. A father like you is understanding.
You're the best father anyone could ever imagine for their children. You're an understanding father, a blessing to our children, a strong and rare man. I am so thankful that our children were blessed with you as their father. Perfect children deserve the perfect father, and that's exactly what they got.
