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| Mum & Dad taken in March 2010 at my eldest daughter's wedding (not my image) |
I consider myself incredibly blessed to have an amazing Dad, who I love more than words can express. He has been a wonderful source of unconditional love, wisdom, encouragement, support and a great listening ear. He provided a life of clear boundaries, good discipline (which didn't do any of his 5 children any harm) and fun and laughter thrown in.
My Dad, along with my Mum, have had an enormous impact on the person I have become and the parent I was. When my children's father walked away from his family over 14 1/2 years ago, and while I raised my children entirely alone as a single Mum, my Dad was always a great source of encouragement & support (even from 1800km away). When we talked on the phone each week, and when he came to visit, he would always tell me what a wonderful job I was doing in raising my children alone, and how proud he was of me.
Dad, you have always been an inspiration to me and I thank God every day that YOU are my father. I hope you had an amazing day... I wish I could celebrate with you, but 1800km is a little to far to drive!!
I love and honour you, Dad, with all my heart and couldn't ask for better. ❤❤
There is also another father in my life... my husband. We married in December 2009.
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| Michael & me, February 2012 (photo credit to my daughter, Bec) |
With the odds stacked against him, he took on the job of raising his 5 girls alone when his ex-wife walked out on their family. Raising children is extremely difficult as a single parent, especially when you have sole custody, and I imagine raising 5 very strong-willed girls when you are a gentle & easy going man is an even tougher task. It hasn't been easy for him, but there is one thing this man knows and does extremely well... unconditional love. His kind and loving nature won my own 4 adult children over.
It's been a tough week for my husband, and Father's Day was a relative non event. But he remained strong while we celebrated another 21st birthday on Sunday, although I am sure he was crumbling inside... and for that I truly honour him (because I was crumbling inside and struggling to keep it together).
I may not be the mother of his children... but this man is certainly a great example to his own children & mine of how to love your wife. Humble enough to see his faults and work on them, patient enough to encourage me while I work on mine, loving enough to fight for what is right. I am glad that after years of no father in their lives, my children are finally seeing what a courageous & loving father is like.
These two men, my Dad & my husband, are my heros. ❤❤
