It's about time for an update! I have to thank my best friends (they know who they are) for encouraging me years ago to keep a journal. The journal idea spawned this blog that I started in 2009 when my kids were very little and was a means to reach out to other single parents. It also gave me an outlet at night when my kids were asleep in addition to writing music. Visiting the blog recently after not having been on the site in a very long time provided me some good comic relief and also reminded me of some very good memories with the kids.
A lot has changed since my last post in 2012. It's amazing to think about how much my kids have grown and changed in that timeframe. CJ is now 13 yrs. old, about to start his first season of football in the 8th grade as a wide receiver. He's grown to love the sport over the last year and half and he's very excited about the upcoming season! He's spent the summer hanging out with his friends, practicing with his football team, and long-boarding all over the place. He loves to long-board with his buddies.
Tyler is 10 yrs. old now and entering the 5th grade...just amazing when I think about it...5th grade...just seems surreal. When I entered the full-time single parenthood, Tyler was just 2yrs. old. I remember when Madison and Tyler were 5 and 6 like yesterday and thinking at times that I wish they could just stay that age for all of their innocence and cuteness during that time. Madison is now 9 yrs. old and coming up on the pre-teen years pretty soon...sigh...praying about the teenage stage already. Anyhow, they're all doing well and had a great summer with their friends.
I entered the Hospitality industry in 2013 and still lead the Worship Ministry at my church as well. In addition, I now have an amazing woman of God as my girlfriend and she has an amazing heart with noble character! Our story started at the International Singles Church Conference in Denver, CO at the end of Sept. in 2014. She is from Puerto Rico and I'm from SC. She happened to be in the same Single Parent class that I attended at the conference. In this class, I ended up standing in front of all the single parents there to answer a question when called upon. My girlfriend noticed me in the class and I noticed her walking by in a crowd of people but we never spoke at the conference! Yes...never spoke! So how did we finally meet?
We became friends via Facebook after the conference through a mutual friend who spoke at the conference. It wasn't until March of 2015 that we started chatting on Facebook after I noticed her "liking" my pics. The dialogue started a great long-distance friendship and we eventually started having dates via Skype in April of 2015. This led me to visit her in June of 2015 to finally go on dates with her in person and then again in December of 2015. She's a Elementary School Teacher and a single mother of a precious 4 yr. old. The dates with her and also getting to know her daughter, friends, and family in Puerto Rico were awesome!
My girlfriend flew out last March during Spring Break and then came out for a month with her daughter this Summer. We got a chance to have our kids together and get a glimpse of how they would respond to one another and that went very well! She's trying to get a job out here and we're very much in love. That's our story to be continued.
When I started being a full-time single parent dad 8 years ago, the furthest thing from my mind was finding love again. The same best friends who encouraged me to start a journal are the same ones who encouraged me over the years to put myself out there and see what God does. My best friend, "Nacho"-given nickname, even took my laptop once and started a profile for me on an online site to try, DT Heart and Soul, and said, "Here, fill out these questions." Lol...it took a while but I started praying for that person and if it was God's will, that he would bring her to me. He answered those prayers and more with my special sweetheart.
No matter what stage of Single Parenthood you're in, there is always hope, and God is always there. Hope does float but you do have to do something about it when it's in front of you. Until next time... :)
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