Tessa-Lynn missed her great-grandfather's 80th Birthday by one day. He is not her biological great-grandfather, but he is the only one she will ever know. All of the great-grandchildren on my mom's side have adopted him as their Opa. I just love seeing how much joy and energy mom and her husband-of-not-even-half-a-year still muster up together by offering to babysit or dropping by with homemade cookies.
It's been about a year now, since Abe called me and asked for my blessing to date my mom. He wanted to begin this right, and he did. At one point, when he asked me how we were doing, I was taken back by how he asked. It still makes me teary eyed. It had been a long time since a father-figure had asked me that. It could be that I would not have had the same feeling had I not known him for most of my life, but still, I was reminded of how it's different when dad asks how you are doing, than when mom asks and that is what caught me by surprise. My dad passed away about 5 years ago, but due to numerous strokes that partly paralyzed him and inhibited his speech, he was not able to do many things for the last ten years of his life. It was hard watching him suffer, a man who had always been so strong, being wheeled, fed and put to bed.
This past weekend Abe took us out for his Birthday. He treated my mom, her kids and spouses. My sister said to me later, "How long has it been since our dad treated our family to a dinner out?" I'm sure that at the time, we had no idea. We are adults. Maybe this is strange. But we love this man who has married our mom. He is not our dad, but he is the most wonderful second dad we could ever have. I don't know how else to say this, but that he feels like a dad . . . one who has adopted us and genuinely cares for the whole family.
Happy 80th Birthday, Abe and Opa
A man with a heart of gold!
May God keep and protect you.
19 comments:
Happy birthday, Uncle Abe!
What a loving tribute!
What a beautiful tribute to a man who is definitely after God's own heart! What a blessing he is to your entire family, not just your Mom.
What a sweet blessing for you and the whole family...and of course your mom!
He truly is a blessing to us!
OH that is so wonderful. I can relate...oh I can relate except to the part of the replacement.
I also thought how it is interesting that when it is the Mom who is left alone, the son begins the responsibility of the Dad...and rightly so. If we go out to dinner now it is natural that the son takes the bill...he is the man.
Big sigh! I love the photo.
This is so touching! I love how you appreciate and recognize that your step dad genuinely loves your family! It's been a very long time since my dad has called to see how I was.....he was the sweetest of dads and this story helps me remember how much I appreciated those calls! I need to call my daughter more often than I do!
How blessed you and your family are!
Some of your thoughts really resonated with me. My dad, too, suffered a stroke and lived the last 5 years of his life not speaking, moving himself or swallowing food - really not communicating at all. So I do understand how you feel to have a dad check on you. God bless you all!
A beautiful birthday tribute! You are so blessed to have such a good second dad!
Anneliese, you are so good at expressing your appreciation and gratitude for the special people in your life.
What a precious picture of the great-grandparents and their baby girl!
You are truly blessed to have a stepdad like Abe...wish his a belated birthday from someone in NC who has never met him, but wishes him blessings...
Love from NC
So lovely Anneliese - what a blessing not only for you mom but for the whole family. A very happy Birthday to your step-dad!
What a special tribute to Abe. How blessed you are to have him as your 'second dad'!
Ah yes....your post warmed my heart.....my dad and I share a dear relationship. I'm so delighted for your mom....for your family in the completeness and the bond you all have with Abe. Their story is most interesting....life long friends for sure....now in a whole new way. They look so happy!
Wow,that brought tears to my eyes when I read this. You are truly blessed to have Abe in your lives. Brings to mind thoughts of what and who we're missing. Thanks for your words of blessing and encouragement. You say it so well.
Monika T
What a blessing you all are to one another. May your step dad and your Mum enjoy many, many more years of family love/life!
A beautiful tribute. May he be blessed with many wonderful years still to come.
What a wonderful blessing for your family!
Your post brought tears to my eyes. I am so very thankful and feel so very blessed by your kind and thoughtful words - that my Opa is surrounded by so much love from all of his new family members - thank you!
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