Girl Chat Linkup

Hello Ladies!

Today I am linking up with Danielle , Emily , Lindsay , Lizzie , and Sierra for "Girl Chat".

Today we are chatting about a time we were really lucky!  There have been so many times in my life when I have felt so truly lucky and blessed.  

It's a given I think that each and every time I was able to give birth to a healthy baby was a time I felt lucky, truly lucky.

But when I look back over my life what stands out the most, other than the birth of my children, is meeting my husband.  I know I have talked about this many times before, and I am sure some of you are sick of hearing me talk about him, so if you are one of those, stop reading now:)

Most of you who read here regularly know that I am divorced and this is a second marriage for both Mark and I.  

I remember as I was going through my divorce I would sit there and think I will NEVER find someone who will be interested in a 36 year old, single mom to 5 kids.  I remember sitting there holding Olivia, saying to myself, I am 100% OK to go through life just being their mom, I don't need a man, I can be happy and content living the rest of my life just being the best mom I could be to my children.  Well, lets just say I am so glad I listened to my girlfriends, and decided to go meet a guy for drinks we found on the internet:)

I remember the first time I met Mark like it was yesterday, and I just remember feeling so content sitting there talking to him.  We talked for hours that first night, and when the fact that I had 5 kids didn't even phase him a bit, I knew right then and there he was a keeper and I was lucky!  

Mark and I moved pretty quickly with our relationship....I didn't wait too long to introduce him to my children, which I know probably sounds so crazy to some of you, (and thankfully he was the first and ONLY one after my divorce) but I truly felt like our feelings for each other were developing pretty quickly and in order for him to really know me, he needed to see me as a mom.  And seriously, I think they all fell in love with each other quicker than him and I did.  It took all of 5 minutes to see him with my sweet baby girl for me to know that I had someone really special.  Mark walked right into our lives, never pausing, never thinking about the crazy chaoticness he was walking into, never stopping to think...what the heck am I doing at 40 getting involved with a woman with 5 kids, whose youngest isn't even 2 yet...he just jumped right in, embraced the crazy and just loved us.  He jumped right into full on dad mode...changing diapers, reading bed time stories, coaching tee-ball teams and basketball teams, he did it all....he did it all not because he had to, but because he wanted to, and I was again reminded just how truly lucky I am.  

Mark not only fell in love with me, he fell in love with my children, and trust me when I tell you, you would NEVER know that these are his step-kids, he couldn't love them anymore if they were his own flesh and blood...and the feeling is mutual...my kids think he is the cat's meow...they love him so much.  Mark has never tried to take the place of their dad, he has so much respect for Kenny and who he is in their life, and my kids think it is pretty darn cool that they get to have 2 dads who love them.

So yes I am lucky...VERY LUCKY.  I get to share my life with a man who adores me, who puts me first and makes me feel special and loved every single day.  I get to have the best partner in the world to raise my children with.  I am so lucky to have found love again after heartache and divorce.  Taking a chance, going out on that date, it changed my life and the lives of my children....and I do feel lucky, every single day that he picked me to share his forever with:)

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure to check back tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

xoxo,

Kimm