I am Thankful for blended families.........

     I know it has been years since I have posted in my blog.  I stopped because the kids did not want me to post about much of what we were doing and with all the teenagers life got crazy. Terry and I are now almost to the empty nest phase.  I am looking forward to it.  I know, what a bad mom!  I am looking forward to time with just my husband, shame on me. The truth is I became a mom in 1992 and a step mom in 1996 and I am tired!  I love my kids but I am tired!  I won't lie, when Dylan graduated there were some tears of sadness because my baby was graduating but now they have changed from tears of sadness to tears of joy.  Why joy you ask?  Because your kids are supposed to grow up and move away.  You teach them to be good, strong young adults.  You nurture them, pray for them, cheer them on and then you let them go.  I would be more upset if they never left because I would then somehow failed as a parent.

     So this year I am thankful for all the step parents out there.  I am thankful for my husband who step in with the boys when they were not always happy with him.  I am thankful for my step children's mothers.  I am thankful that I got to be a part of the lives of their children.  That the kids got to be a part of our family celebrations.  I am thankful for my children, all of them.  The boys I birthed and the children I married; as I didn't just marry their dad, they are just as important to me as he is.

     I am thankful for my husband, who loves me when I can't love myself and who tolerates my crazy.  We make a good team.  It is a lot of hard work and dedication but it is fun as well.  He is my best friend and I thank God daily for my little niece Faith who picked me out for him when she was four.

     To those of you struggling this time of year remember you are not alone.  There are other parents and step parents struggling with the same questions you are.  You will get through.  You will survive.  You are not alone.