Hey Steve!

I’m a very lucky girl! Not only did God see fit to bless me with an awesome dad, but in His divine greatness He saw fit to give me you as a Bonus Dad.  WOW!  How cool is that?!  I know in the beginning I wasn’t easy to get along with, but no matter what you still pushed through.  Day by day my heart softens towards you.  It’s amazing how emotional teenage girls can be (lol).  I bet you never guessed the amount of time it would take to crack through the tough wall that is my personality.  But you did it, and I am eternally grateful that you did.

You hung in there during all my troublesome teen years and you were there through my misguided twenties. You didn’t try to replace my dad, instead you just became a cool dude who offered advice and cared about me.  I know you cared because if I were you I don’t know how many times I would have put me out the house for my obnoxious behavior.  But you just laughed and made fun of me.  You made it so that I was able to laugh at myself.  Dude we are really silly! Not only did you come along as a Bonus Dad, but you gave me a baby brother.  I love this dude like we share the same DNA and he gets the same torture my sister gets.  There’s no step between us, he’s just my brother.

When I finally had children of my own, you were so excited. You are their Granddad and you took to spoiling them right away.  My son for the longest time thought you took his nose and replaced it at night (that boy is strange), he really looked up to you and misses you.  Thank you for never making us feel like we were not a part of your family, for embracing us and allowing our worlds to mix.  You did good sir.

I pray that you are in heaven meeting someone who tells as many off colored jokes as you, sitting on a porch sipping special lemonade. Happy Father’s Day!

Nik

Dedicated to the memory of Steven Michael Sanders.