There are people who search for the entirety of a lifetime to find the one that is their soul mate and I found mine on my first shot out of the gate at the young, spry age of 19. I had a gut feeling almost immediately after our first date that I wanted to spend my years on this earth with mr. Adam Brehm. People asked me at the time how I was so positive that he was “the one”, my “one”. I knew he would be a great friend, a passionate love, a witty conversationalist and a true companion. I knew he would be a partner, an equal, and a man I could be proud to call “mine”. I knew he’d challenge me, push me, support me and all the while, love me for face value. I knew that he would be loving, doting, adoring and complimentary.
I knew he’d be a great dad.
At 19, there’s only one way to know that someone is going to be all these things. I knew because I have a great dad. A dad that is a great friend to my mom. A dad who seems to be all things to all people. A dad who eternally seems to put his needs behind the other 4 people in our household. A dad who could be a coach, a teacher, a minister, a choir director, a comedian, a chauffeur, and on occasion, a lawyer. My dad has a knack with people. A gift of making you feel like you are the only person who matters. He taught me {without knowing} that I could live my own version of a love like he has with my mom. He made me know that my {someday} kids needed and deserved a great dad. He is why I knew that I would find Adam.
I tell Adam often that while I knew he was all of the things I wanted in a husband, he is a million things I never would have known to wish for. I knew 8 years ago that Adam was “my one” but I didn’t know Adam with Barrett. I didn’t know the joy on his face when he got home after a long day of work and cuddled his little boy in his arms. I didn’t know the patience he’d have at 3 o’clock in the morning on the third feeding of the night when his little baby had to be held upright for a half hour at a time. I didn’t know the true partnership I’d feel as we attend all appointments together. I didn’t know the way my love for him would grow after knowing what a fascinating person we could create together. I didn’t really know the dad he’d be.
I often say to Adam that he does not get extra credit for being great because that is what I’ve come to expect from him. But to be quite honest, he surpasses my “expectations” daily… and today I’ll give credit where credit is due.
Happy father’s day to all the exceptional men in my life {you know who you are} who are phenomenal fathers. I can only hope that Barrett knows how to be a dad someday {perhaps after he’s graduated high school, college, and gotten married} because of all of you.