The "Bouncing Baby 9-Year-Old"

My step-daughter is the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life, alongside my husband and my own children, of course! We only met her when she was nine-years-old. My husband didn't realize that he had a child outside of our two and his daughter from his first marriage, but low and behold, there she was. I won't go into the brutal details of paternity, etc., but the first time I layed eyes on her, there was no denying she was his!! I won't lie and say that it was easy... it wasn't. But that little girl absolutely stole my heart! Sometimes life hands you situations that you just don't believe you can make it through, and then God shows you the way.

We met her about three months before her 10th birthday. Kids can be very unforgiving and cruel, but I don't think she has ever had a cruel bone in her body. She accepted our family as if she had known us her entire life. Which, of course, made it easier for us to accept her. She hasn't had an easy life, but you would rarely hear her complain. Her mom had a lot of difficult hurdles to get over, and subsequently, those hurdles transferred to her daughter. She was a surrogate mother to her four younger siblings, and many times would be responsible for caring for them from after school until they were all on the bus the next day. It had to be so difficult, but yet she still never complained. She loved them as if they were her own. She grew up MUCH before her time.

But about three years ago she decided that it was time for her to have a life. She made a very mature and difficult decision to move in with us. It was not easy on her, and she was put through some very trying siutations with her mother and her family, but she stood her ground and did what she thought was best for her. I can't say that I have ever had a hero who was younger than me, but she became my hero at only fourteen years old. To this day, she still has struggles and conflict at times with her family over her decision. She still stands her ground with a strength that most adults wouldn't have to stand up for what they believe. I love her as if she is my own! God blessed me with two children who came from my womb, but I also believe that He gave me an extra special blessing in a child who didn't, and for that I will be forever grateful!

About Me...

So I guess the best way to start my blog is to tell you about me. I live in Indiana with my family; my husband, two daughters (both 17), a son (15), and our two dogs (also part of the family)! We're what you would call a blended family. My husband has four children (three of which live at home) and two of those are also mine. We just met his daughter (one of the 17 year olds)about eight years ago and she has lived with us the last three of those. (That's a LONG story for another post.) We have been happily married for sixteen years (yes, I know... another confusing math thing, considering the two 17 year old daughters).

My life can be very confusing and exhilarating at the same time. I don't have a lot of out-of-the-box excitement, but yet I definitely have things that are not your everyday situations. I guess that's why I feel the need to share. If I can go through it, I'm sure there are others out there who have had similar situations, and I would love to share and help if I can. I don't ever want to bore anyone, but hope that my life can somehow inspire others. :) ENJOY!