We are stitched together- Blake Shelton

"God Gave Me You"

I've been a walking heartache
I've made a mess of me
The person that I've been lately
Ain't who I wanna be

But you stay here right beside me
And watch as the storm blows through
And I need you

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you
Gave me you

There's more here than what we're seeing
A divine conspiracy
That you, an angel lovely
Could somehow fall for me
You'll always be love's great martyr
And I'll be the flattered fool
And I need you
Yeah!

God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you

On my own I'm only
Half of what I could be
I can't do without you
We are stitched together
And what love has tethered
I pray we never undo

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you, gave me you
He gave me you 

A few days after Wes left Trent and I heard this song for the first time on the radio. Both of our eyes filled with tears. Trent looked at me and said, "this is our song, God gave us each other." I swear that boy knows how to melt my heart. 

This post is about being a stepparent. I have learned so much from being a stepmom, and I have gained so much respect for all the "non-blood" parents out there. It is not an easy job by any means. Growing up I had a stepmother and stepfather. At times I may have resented them, not because I didn't like them, but because I was still upset about my parents divorce. Little did I know that the two people added to my family were so special and amazing. I gave them a run for their money. I was the oldest of my 3 siblings, and I was the angry teenager. I wasn't always the best stepdaughter. Now as an adult, and a stepparent myself I know how hard the job can be. I now understand just how amazing they are. The both taught me how to be a good stepparent. Now, as an adult, I do not just consider them my stepparents, I consider them my parents and my friends. My stepmother is a strong woman who takes very good care of my family. She loves us unconditionally, and I consider her a saint for putting up with my dad's and mine sense of humor. My stepfather is as cool as a cucumber. He is the strong silent type. He never pushes or demands, and I always know that no matter what he will always be there for me and Trent. I may have not realized it as a child, but I now understand how great these 2 people are. They are heaven sent. It takes a special person to raise and love a child like their own. 

I guess I appreciate them more now that I am a stepparent myself. It is unbelievable the love you can feel for a child that you are not blood related to. I love my kid like he is my own. I feel the love of a mother. Yes, I missed out on his early years, but I have been with him for over half his life now. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for my son. He is the best part of me. He may call me "Stella" and not "mom", but that doesn't matter to me. I know that we share a bond that can never be broken. He is my reason for pushing on after Wes left. As Blake Shelton says, "God gave me you for the ups and downs, God gave me you for the days of doubt." Whenever I start to feel lost, and I begin to question this path I am on, I stop to remember, it's for Trent. I wish I could describe the love I have for him, but that would be an impossible task. I could try to explain, but I would type for days. I guess I could say it's the love of a parent, but it is so much more than that. After everything we have been through, the battles we have fought, and the mountains we have climbed, Trent is what keeps me from losing all faith. My faith has been shaken, but has never gone away completely, because I have him. 

If you have a stepparent let them know how much they mean to you. They may not know it, and you may not even realize it. Stepparents are people who CHOOSE to be your parent. They CHOOSE you. It is a great feeling once you realize how special it is to be chosen. 

I just wanted to say thank you to my stepparents. Lynette and Bill, thank you so much for CHOOSING to be my parents. Thank you for never giving up on me no matter how hard I fought. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. 

Stella

My role models...