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My Two Dads

September is my Dads' birthdays!  Yes, you heard that right- 2 Dads!  I am the most blessed girl in the world.  God knew that I needed them!

My Mom married Dennis when I was four and moved to a ranch in Western South Dakota.  Very quickly I was followed by five beautiful sisters and a brother.  My Dad Dennis adopted me and they were very wise in being truthful with me right away.  In fact, we would go get a pop at the old Hereford Post Office on that day for years to come.  They told me about my birth Dad Chuck and as much as my Mom could remember about him and his family and the story of my coming to be.  I can't imagine this cowboy taking a very wild four year old along with his wild wife home to the flats to meet the family.   So we became ranch women and I loved everything about it.  It fit me!  I could help feed, ride and have lots and lots of freedom.   Can you imagine being the Dad of six girls?   I think-o.k. I know that I was difficult to raise.  My Dad Dennis used to break horses and he learned through time that bucking them out didn't work and that you had to work with them and move them in the right direction.  I think I taught him that.  He had to step in many times to save me or Mom during those teen years. I feel so sorry for them now.  He raised us to be very independent, strong, opinionated and that we could do and did anything that boys could do.  You would find us delivering calves, fixing fence, haying (just not with the guys for some reason) and always being up to something with each other.

Several years ago, I met my birth Dad Chuck for the first time.  He drove two days just to meet my family and me!  Today he is just Dad to me which is so amazing.  He has a beautiful wife Vicki who is so down to earth honest and I just love her to pieces.  I have two more strong and independent sisters and a niece!  In fact, David and I giggle when we talk about "these" Dakota girls.  I love having them in my life and feel like the pieces of the puzzle are together.  I see the boys in him in so many ways.  In facial expressions and mannerisms.  And I finally found where I got gypsy blood from!!!  My husband respects him and sees a lot of me in him.  The boys love them and we are just family.

Last Thanksgiving my Dads met at the ranch for the first time and my Mom got to meet Vicki and what a surreal thing to see all of my parents in one room.  It was so great for the boys and I to have those nearest and dearest to our hearts in one room.   It takes special people to be able to do that!!

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