My Family.

1646 Days ago, my "Family" looked very different. I considered myself mostly alone, with the exception of my Grandparents. I had gone through a series of bad-decision-relationships, and had come to the conclusion that I would end up marrying someone like my biological Father (AKA a pathological liar and an addict)  and ending up a miserable mess.

But 1647 days ago, the man I would end up Marrying met my eyes for the very first time. 

It was an irrational-over the top- can't spend a moment without you- you fit perfectly in my arms, kind of connection. He has made me laugh and love him endlessly since the first moment we met.

I had no idea while joking with him at the bar, that he had a little one and one on the way. But, when he told me... I was not scared. I did not panic. I was eager to meet his son(s). I was amazed at how easy it was to just fall into his life with him and to feel accepted and like it was just "right".

I waited 3 years for his divorce to be finalized, and four years to claim him as MINE. Other than "Mama/Mommy", "MRS."  is definitely a title I have EARNED.

I knew my place was with him and with OUR children. I knew it with everything inside of me. None of this was a shock.

The event that shook our Family....the event that threw us for a loop, happened last September. While driving home from the newly re-named Gulf in Goshen, driving through Hurricane Irene I might add, I received a text message so shocking and sad that I had to pull over and sob until I could no longer produce tears. That was the day that heather texted me to say that the relationship between her and Jen, was no more.

I cried for my sons....cried because they would have to experience yet another life changing moment. Cried, that when they drew family pictures, their images would again need to change. Cried, for Heather and for Jen, cried because they had beautiful photographs and went on fun family vacations, and I wasn't close enough to them to know that something had been wrong. I wasn't there to see the signs and say, "Are you ok?" to my son's Mother. I cried because I knew they had all cried.

I never would have guessed that in a years time, that we would be going to church together; having Sunday night family dinners together; that Heather would be my go-to second shooter for SNAPPEDphotography; or that I would call her just as much and I call Sean at night to make sure everything's ok and that the boys are behaving in both homes .... never would have guessed.

I certainly never expected to have a Family portrait, that looks like this::::

The Purcell's:::: ALL of us