NOTE: I apparently hit save instead of publish with this last week, so it is a little late!
I’m feeling older than ever today! There is a funny thing about being a step-mom (or at least the kind of step-mom that I am!)…there is a point where you actually forget that you did not birth those children — and that in some cases it would have been impossible. Jonathan is a a few several years older than I am. So, of course, his kids are older. After my divorce, I swore I would not date anyone with kids — especially older kids! All you hear are the horror stories of blended families, and I just did not feel like I could deal with that at that point in my life.
Funny how God had different plans for us! Little did I know that the most wonderful man would walk into my life with what?!?! Two.children?? Not one, but two. And not toddlers or preschoolers, but a 17 and 11 year old! My initial instinct was to run, not walk, do not pass go, do not collect $200…but get the heck out of there! Boy am I glad I can’t run very fast! Little did I know that those 2 boys would become 2 of the greatest blessings ever bestowed on me by God.
Unfortunately, with Brandon at age 17, I missed many of the milestones in his early life; however, I did get to experience graduation — which was a wonderful day! But with Phillip, so much changes from 11 to 15 (more than I ever really thought about or realized). He is not the same little boy he was when I met him. And I remember the day I met him quite vividly. We did not want to introduce me to Jonathan’s boys until we knew that our relationship was solid. Jonathan made a very big deal over the fact that Phillip may not warm up to me immediately, that he would probably be pretty quiet, and that he would probably be a little timid. Wrong! He was “on” from moment one. He talked and entertained me and made me laugh…he is still entertaining me and making me laugh to this day!
I am so proud of the young man he is becoming. I am so proud of the stepson he is to me. They both could have rejected me — especially him (considering he and I have always had to spend lots of time together while Jonathan is at work; therefore, putting me in a strong disciplinary position), but they accepted me with open arms, and I honestly do love them like they were my own. Over the past few months, he has started guitar lessons and found his singing voice, and he is becoming quite the musician. He is a “good guy” and that makes me happy!
In just a few short hours, he’ll be going to get his driver’s permit —AAAAHHH! I am so very nervous excited!
