Father's Day

Well friends, it's about that time again. Time to play catch up. Let's start with Father's Day. Here are just a few of my favorite pictures of Bricen and his Daddy.

Now, I know it would have made sense to put this at the beginning or end of the post. I just wanted to be consistent with my inability to organize my pictures when I post. :0) My step dad. The best of the best. He married my mom two years before she died. Mom had been single for over ten years. Brianna moved out and it was mom, Bridget and I. Then Bridget passed away and it was just me and Mom. You probably wouldn't be too surprised to hear that it took some adjusting on my end when Dennis came in the picture. For all of what I could remember there was not a man in the house growing up. But through the years that mom was sick it was me and Dennis there day in and day out. I grew to love the man mom loved and I firmly believe God knew what he was doing when he put Dennis in our lives. I might have already mentioned that I was accepted into the nursing program due to start the mo after mom died. When she died Dennis made it clear he was not going anywhere. I think mom probably made him promise to let me live with him until I finished nursing school...probably one of her late night talks and one of those "Rita looks" came along with it. Haha. But just as I don't doubt that conversation took place, I know Dennis replied with a genuine answer that he absolutely would do that.

This is the guy that fills your car up with gas as a surprise and just because. The guy that will have the snow cleared off your car and a path shoveled for you to walk out before you even realize it's snowed. We often played cards at dinner before and after mom passed. Even though it is sometimes embarrassing, he never meets a stranger. This is the guy that during the holidays, no matter how many times you forget something all you have to do is mention that you forgot it and he will go back to the grocery (again) to get it without a moments hesitation. Haha I saw money get tight and then even tighter when mom was sick. I saw Dennis make sacrifice after sacrifice in order to provide.  My nieces and nephews know him as papaw or grandpa and Bricen does too. No matter where life leads Dennis he will always be family to us. Because of him, my mom's last few years on Earth were a little richer in love.

The month Bricen was in NICU Marty came up almost every night during the week and would then pack a bag and stay the weekends with me, sleeping at the Ronald McDonald House.

First Thanksgiving.

This shirt speaks the truth! I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Bricen thinks his Daddy hung the moon! He already wants to be like Dad and do everything Daddy is doing. (This could get us in trouble as he gets older. lol) He loves cuddles from me and when he is sick he clings to me and needs his Mama. But any other time, he wants to hang with Dad.

I know Bricen and Marty will have some fun with the outdoors. Thank goodness, because I'm not exactly an outdoorsy kind of gal. :0)

 This is my favorite picture of my two handsome fellas. I just think it speaks volumes for the man I married and the Dad that he is to Bricen. Here he is, gowned up in his isolation gown and gloves, helping keep Bricen occupied during a hospital stay. I will keep it honest and say Bricen's illness has it's effects on our marriage and it's not always hearts and flowers. But when it comes to being there for us as a family and during the hardest of times, Marty is there. A little gun shy at first, and still has his moments but he has stepped up to the plate and been involved in every aspect of Bricen's medical needs with the exception of inserting the NG before he got the MicKey button and actually changing the button since he has had it. But he has helped with each change of both the NG and MicKey button. He knows when I need him to help me think things through when Bricen is sick and then there are the times when he says "Whatever you think, babe." If only I could get him to use that line in other situations! Haha Now, I highly doubt he could tell you the name of any of his five Doctors or three therapist, nor does he know how to order more medical supplies or the numbers for any of those people but I'm confident he could handle it all if he needed to.

It warms my heart to see these two play together. Just like Bricen does when he sees Daddy, Marty lights up when he sees Bricen. They are already BFF.