One of the greatest men in my life...

After spending most of the day with him yesterday, I feel the need to introduce you all to one of the greatest men I have ever had the privilege to know.  His name is James, but I call him Daddy. 

He helped make these two people.

My wonderful sister (well legally she is my ex-sister-in-law) LeAnn, but to me she will always be my sister (mainly because I never considered her to be my sister-in-law).  LeAnn is one of my best friends and I love her more than I ever thought possible between sisters.

Ain't she purty?

And of course he had a hand in creating this person I call my ex husband...Shane.  He was my high school sweetheart and we got married very young for all the wrong reasons.  It didn't last, but we are friends and I will always love him because he is the father of my three beautiful children.  Only now instead of loving him like I used to, I love him like he is my brother and that is really the type of relationship we have.

 

You see...without Shane in my life, I would not have James in my life.  He is the best father any girl could ever ask for.  My biological father was not that involved in my life once he started his new life with his new family, so growing up I did not know what it was like to have a Daddy.  Then I met Shane and fell in love (or so I thought...I was young, I now know that I fell in love with Shane's family.  But that is a different story for a different night.)

When Shane and I started dating, his parents immediately took me into their family and treated me like I was one of their own.  His Mama, Betty Sue, was the most amazing woman and she always let us know how much she loved us.  HIs Daddy, James (see pic above) immediately took me under his wing and was the father I had never had. They told me from the beginning to call them Mama and Daddy. And I have never called them anything else.

Daddy has always been there for me when I needed a Daddy, and no matter what is going on, I know that I can still count on him.  I know that he will always be my Daddy, and he says that I will always be his daughter.  Shane and LeAnn's parents showed me what a real family is like, and how a child is supposed to be loved.  Don't get me wrong, my Mama showed me how much she loved me everyday of my life, but I never got to see what a true family was like; until I joined this family. 

Daddy has such a kind, gentle heart and loves his family more than anything.  He loves his kids, no matter how bad they screw up; he loves his grandkids like nothing else...he thinks that the sun rises and sets with his grandchildren.  AND you know what...his grandchildren feel the same way about him. 

 

You always hear stories about in-laws from Hell, but I can tell you I hit the jackpot when I got my in-laws.  Even after Shane and I divorced, they still include me in all the family events and I am welcome at their home anytime.  I can remember when Shane's...wait a minute...my  Mama left us here on earth and went home to be with Jesus...Daddy introduced me to people as his daughter; not his daughter-in-law or the girl who was married to Shane, or anything else... He introduced me as his and Mama's daughter.  That made such an impact on me and I don't think I have ever told him how much that meant to me.  Mama and Daddy would tell me after Shane and I divorced that I divorced Shane, not them...and you know what...they were right.  They will forever be a part of my family and they would forever be a part of my family even if Shane and I had not had any children.

I just thought I should introduce you to one of the most important men in my life.  If you don't know him, I hope that one day you have the fortune of meeting him; your life would be forever changed.

Comments

[Mama]

Thanks, makes me feel real good. I love you, Mama

[LeAnn]

THanks for all the sweet comments. You know I love you too. And those (un)babies of yours just like my own. AND what the heck Paul too! :) You are most definitely still a part of our family and always will be. And by the way... I mariied into a family just as wonderful and supportiveas the one I came from, so I know how you feel. I thought I would never find a family that could match my own. BUT... here we are!

Love you girlie!