...are everywhere, even in the things we thought were disasters at the time.
As in the ruptured disc which ended my deam of an Air Force career, but made possible the things that came after.
As in a couple of busted romances, with "the one", or so I thought at the time (disaster), only to end up with a fantastic woman of beauty, character, and just pure old sexiness (blessing). You who have met her should have seen her back in the day. You would remember it. The first time I met her, my first thought was. "this woman is way out of my league." Nearly 41 years of marriage have confirmed that.
Forward to six month newlyweds who both wanted kids, only to find out that necessary surgery was going to end that dream. Disaster! Then five years to the little blond two month old adopted boy who turned out to be the kind of son every man dreams of. (Huge blessing) Very outgoing, athletic, good kid and at the same time tough as nails. Never went through the stage where I was stupid, or he was ashamed to be seen with me. Once as a college student in a time of crisis, he said, "Dad, there is only one thing in the world I am afraid of. Disappointing you." Frankly, I didn't want to saddle him with that, and told him so. Now I have a grandson, a grandaughter, and a daughter in law who we feel fortunate to have. My son calls me almost every day, ostensibily just to shoot the bull about sports, but in reality because we still like each other. When I told my son once, "I hope you have a boy just like you", I was wishing a good thing on him, and it came true.
The there's Kim, a wholly different adoption experience. From day one we knew we had a problem. Only much later did we learn of Reactive Attachment Disorder. We adopted a sociopath, beginning 16 years of disaster. Once someone asked how Kim was doing, and the most honest answer I could come up with was that as far as we knew, she had never killed anyone, but we didn't know that for a fact. Then the double whammy, the hit and run at age 21, leaving her permanently disabled. You who know her now, who have heard her say, "I would rather be the way I am now than the way I was then" you know the extent of the blessing, the joy that she brings to all she meets.
So now here sits a 65 year old fart on Easter Sunday, surrounded by a family very different than what I once expected, feeling like one of the most fortunate men in he world, with blessings I don't deserve but am so very deeply thankful for. All born out of "disaster".
As in the ruptured disc which ended my deam of an Air Force career, but made possible the things that came after.
As in a couple of busted romances, with "the one", or so I thought at the time (disaster), only to end up with a fantastic woman of beauty, character, and just pure old sexiness (blessing). You who have met her should have seen her back in the day. You would remember it. The first time I met her, my first thought was. "this woman is way out of my league." Nearly 41 years of marriage have confirmed that.
Forward to six month newlyweds who both wanted kids, only to find out that necessary surgery was going to end that dream. Disaster! Then five years to the little blond two month old adopted boy who turned out to be the kind of son every man dreams of. (Huge blessing) Very outgoing, athletic, good kid and at the same time tough as nails. Never went through the stage where I was stupid, or he was ashamed to be seen with me. Once as a college student in a time of crisis, he said, "Dad, there is only one thing in the world I am afraid of. Disappointing you." Frankly, I didn't want to saddle him with that, and told him so. Now I have a grandson, a grandaughter, and a daughter in law who we feel fortunate to have. My son calls me almost every day, ostensibily just to shoot the bull about sports, but in reality because we still like each other. When I told my son once, "I hope you have a boy just like you", I was wishing a good thing on him, and it came true.
The there's Kim, a wholly different adoption experience. From day one we knew we had a problem. Only much later did we learn of Reactive Attachment Disorder. We adopted a sociopath, beginning 16 years of disaster. Once someone asked how Kim was doing, and the most honest answer I could come up with was that as far as we knew, she had never killed anyone, but we didn't know that for a fact. Then the double whammy, the hit and run at age 21, leaving her permanently disabled. You who know her now, who have heard her say, "I would rather be the way I am now than the way I was then" you know the extent of the blessing, the joy that she brings to all she meets.
So now here sits a 65 year old fart on Easter Sunday, surrounded by a family very different than what I once expected, feeling like one of the most fortunate men in he world, with blessings I don't deserve but am so very deeply thankful for. All born out of "disaster".
) me become the Husband & Father that God wants me to be. You are wise enough to Know that Kathy is out of your league ,, just like Michelle is way out of mine,,, but here we are almost 29 years later.
