Bring On Lemons

So - everything makes me cry...maybe it's hormones, maybe it's the weather, or maybe it's just that I realize how precious every moment is. That doesn't mean I don't lose my cool with the children, cut my husband off mid-sentence, or hit the drive through instead of making a healthy home cooked meal ... I'm human after all. Maybe you've heard my story about my father and I won't keep you stuck here reading the details...but the short version is he was already sick when I was born, then was diagnosed as terminal by the time I was in highschool, and he passed away right after teaching me to drive a car. He didn't care about things like new clothes, fancy haircuts, or becoming famous. The things he prayed for were simple: He wanted to see his little girl graduate, he wanted to walk me down the aisle, and he wanted to hold his grandchildren. Unfortunately, none of those things came true for him. His will to live was so great that despite the pain he ...

I shared a picture on Facebook today and I'll share it here with you all as well: My dad was quite devoted to his family, and he was a good man. I would go so far as to say that he was a great man. He passed away when I was young so I honestly didn't see any of the faults that may have been under the service. He was quiet, patient, loving, and kind. As a little girl, that's all I could have wanted. He spent time with me and loved me unconditionally. He listened to me and protected me. Looking back, I totally get all that. He had wanted to be a father and waited nearly 50 years to have a child. He had every reason to be smitten with me. Here's what I don't get about parenting (and this is not a complete list, because I truly don't understand the absent and abusive parents, the unloving parents, etc... but that's not what this is about) - I don't get how someone can be as devoted as my dad was to me, to children that aren't theirs. My hat goes off...