What's in a name?....an abundance of happiness and love, actually. Six years ago today, my life and my name changed because of one man taking a risk, and loving my sisters and I unconditionally, forever. Cue the music....ADOPTION DAY!
Of course, it was many years prior to that when he took the big PLUNGE into a role of fatherhood that nobody saw coming, or ever asked him to. Let's take a little stroll down memory lane to find out exactly how we got to this magical day.
I believe Brad Paisley (with a few interjections by yours truly) said it best...
"He Didn't Have To Be"
When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview (with me being the harshest of employers, of course, protecting my mother's feelings)
My mom used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me (us, all four of US!) and then turn around and run
I met the man I call my dad when I was five (err...thirteen) years old
He took my mom out to a movie (Evita actually, and we hear the story over and over like it was yesterday..."and then at the end of the movie, he asked 'may I kiss you'" blah blah, gross gross) and for once I got to go (yeah right, more like babysit for the night. But no worries, he watched Toy Story with us shortly thereafter, which made up for everything)
It always winds up feeling more like a job interview (with me being the harshest of employers, of course, protecting my mother's feelings)
My mom used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me (us, all four of US!) and then turn around and run
I met the man I call my dad when I was five (err...thirteen) years old
He took my mom out to a movie (Evita actually, and we hear the story over and over like it was yesterday..."and then at the end of the movie, he asked 'may I kiss you'" blah blah, gross gross) and for once I got to go (yeah right, more like babysit for the night. But no worries, he watched Toy Story with us shortly thereafter, which made up for everything)
A few months later I remember lying there in bed (actually, we were right there a part of it all...and he asked me first for permission which wasn't an automatic given until he got on his knee...for me. Then we were in serious plan mode to ask Mom)
I overheard him pop the question and prayed that she'd say yes
And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half thedad (parent)
That he didn't have to be
I met thegirl (man) that's now my wife (husband) about eight years ago
We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin' more
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends
Crowded 'round the nursery window as they bring the baby in
And now all of a sudden
It seemed so strange to me
How we've gone from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man
That's standin' next to me (video camera in hand, taking away all my pain and making me smile, as usual)
And I hope I'm at least half thedad (parent)
That he didn't have to be
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me (braid my hair, cheer me on at games and musicals, teach me to drive, relax me and teach me to LIVE and love adventure, scuff my heels with his sander, throw a ball in the backyard, paint my room...for the fifth time, dry my tears (even after I put his F150 in the ditch), threaten the boys, create a type A - master packer, and kill that spider that he too didn't want to kill!)Is I hope I'm at least half thedad (parent)
That he didn't have to be
I overheard him pop the question and prayed that she'd say yes
And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the
That he didn't have to be
I met the
We had the perfect marriage but we wanted somethin' more
Now here I stand surrounded by our family and friends
Crowded 'round the nursery window as they bring the baby in
And now all of a sudden
It seemed so strange to me
How we've gone from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' through the glass I think about the man
That's standin' next to me (video camera in hand, taking away all my pain and making me smile, as usual)
And I hope I'm at least half the
That he didn't have to be
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me (braid my hair, cheer me on at games and musicals, teach me to drive, relax me and teach me to LIVE and love adventure, scuff my heels with his sander, throw a ball in the backyard, paint my room...for the fifth time, dry my tears (even after I put his F150 in the ditch), threaten the boys, create a type A - master packer, and kill that spider that he too didn't want to kill!)Is I hope I'm at least half the
That he didn't have to be
The challenge: raise four crazy girls, as if they were your own, and love them as if you held them at birth. This was no challenge for Paul Dolinski. Sure, we were "challenging," but he took on the role with grace and handled our antics with amazing experience...and the key word, patience.
I have been three (yes, THREE) different last names in the eight years I have been with Daniel (I think at one point, he thought I was having an identity crisis, haha). By far, my favorite (sorry hunny) is the one that took the most dedication, heroism, and love....Dolinski.
I always knew what a great task "Paulie" had taken on, but never appreciated it as much as I do now that I am a parent myself. I'm not sure that I would be able to love one (let alone FOUR) little humans that had already inherited their own personality, attitude and agenda. And he did it, because he loved our momma so much. I thank GOD everyday for that!
Oh...and I totally forgot to mention that I loved being able to, and miss being able to "GO DOLINSKI" on someone. haha :) Daniel still says sometimes that I do, as he hides in the corner and doesn't claim me for the moment.
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