Father's.....

With father's day coming up, I figure I'd write about well... father's. I have a full blooded Vietnamese dad. Now life with him wasn't always a happy go lucky little journey. It wasn't the most horrible thing either. I have to remember that he is from a different country and grew up with completely different outlooks and ways about him. I know that the journey to America for a better life was a hard fought one, and getting his family the same luxury after he made it was hard as well. Like everyone, adaptation was what I feel got to him the most, staying who you always were and living in a new environment with all these concepts of how life "should" be can be challenging. Through it all, I know I was taking care of, I just felt like I lacked the closeness and love that in my head was how a father should be. My dad loves me, he just battles with how to show it, has for as long as I can remember. 

Let me take it farther back for you... My ideas of a father came from my Grandaddy. You never had to question how he felt, he showed us all how much he loved us all the time. I do feel like if it weren't for him my dad wouldn't have been able to show the amount of love that he actually does show. I know my dad looked up to him more than Granddaddy probably ever knew. Life really changed when he left us here to go home. 

Grandaddy wasn't the only father I looked up to, I have the coolest, craziest Uncle in world. Uncle Frank. He is a big goofball. He is the one that all kids get attached to... Just ask oh, Kaylee, Cade, Bradley, Madelyn, Tanner, Makayla....and me... lol... He gave me the idea that fathers should be fun and willing to be silly just to see someone smile. 

All the men I grew up with all taught me what I would hope to find in a father for my children one day- A fighter who provides, a loving man who teaches us how to love and be good, and a fun silly man who teaches us you are never to old to bond with a child on their level. 

I can say that I fully believe I have found that man. Tj has had ups and downs his whole life. I know the relationship with his father is a battle in his mind and heart. The heartbreak he has gone through over feeling like his father didn't care follows him. It is a constant reminder to me on how no matter what me and my dad went thru, it could always be worse. Tj didn't have the same kind of men in his life. Tj has a wonderful step father who I don't think he ever refers to as his step father. He may have gone through his own battles and had to step up to be the man he is today, but he was the provider and he has showed Tj that it is NEVER too late to get on track and be the man God wants you to be. I have seen Tj step up and become even more determined to break the cycle and be everything for his kids that he wanted growing up. Spinning a negative to a positive. Tj shows the kids daily how much he loves them, tries his best to never disappoint them, and always keeps his promises. They love all the time they get with their daddy! He is also more driven as a man to get as far ahead as he can to provide for us all, not to mention he is as silly and crazy as can be. 

All in all, they say girls find someone like their daddy. I found someone like all 3 of the father's I had/have in my life. I'd say I'm one lucky girl.