Tracie's Present

My wife Tracie gave me a wonderful wedding present – something I have desired for years, but didn’t think I would receive so soon.  The present is two wonderful step-children – Timothy & Jasmine.  On our wedding day, I went from a house of one to being a family of four. 

Becoming husband and step-dad on the same day was an adjustment for this 40 year old man, but it has been great!  For a long time, I lived by myself and when I saw announcements for “family events” I thought of moms & dads with their children, and the thought of me being there by myself brought fears of parents trying to keep their kids away from “that guy creeping around.”  For a long time, I’ve watched many of you raise your children, taxi-ing them to their various events of interest, eat with them, play with them, and helping them through sickness. 

I’ve enjoyed the small thing such as walking across the street to pick them up from school, walking home from school, playing on the play ground (Tracie and I play on the slides and swings too), answering home work questions, and sharing some things that delight me.  Timothy has been in Cub Scouts this year and will soon transition to Boy Scouts.  We’ve enjoyed sharing stories from my scouting days as we guide him through creating his own learning experience.  Jasmine will draw cars with the number “43” on the door.  Jasmine enjoyed a brief shopping trip we made to a sporting goods store to pick up some rattling fishing lures.  She was fascinated with all of the “shad baits” in the bright colors.  She would choose the purple and chartreuse colors over the boring black and chrome colors I picked.   Both of them have become very attached to a fish pillow I have that looks like a bluegill.  They named it “Mr. Fishman.”

Being husband and step-dad has changed my perspective on the wellness of Dean - greater purpose to take care of myself physically and with the choices I make.  I want to be around a long time for all three of these wonderful people God has blessed me with and entrusted into my care.  Soon, we will gather fishing rods and live bait to catch bluegill.  I will inform them that it’s not “Mr. Fishman” we are catching.

Thanks for your wonderful support and understanding as Tracie, Jasmine, Timothy and I have blended into the family that we are.