Life is full of surprises and one of the most unexpected one is falling in love. It can happen anytime and anywhere, be it at a mundane grocery store or over a few months of exchanging funny dog videos. Love not only brings two people together but also comes with a package deal of bonus people such as a witty grandma, a helpful uncle, or a bunch of loyal friends. Tony Thomas was lucky enough to gain six new kids when he met his future wife, Lexy. Their connection was so profound that he decided to adopt them and give them his name, so that they could all share the same surname and boundless love.
After divorcing the father of her six wonderful sons – Elijah, Isaiah, Ethan, Sheldon, Simeon, and Iridius, Lexy didn’t lose hope in finding her true love. She signed up for an online dating website, hoping to find her perfect match.
Tony was looking for love and found a whole lot of it when he met Lexy and her six sons
Little did she know that Tony was also searching for his soulmate on the same website. They instantly connected and their conversations grew deeper as they discovered their shared values and sense of humor. Eventually, they decided it was time to meet in person, to hear each other’s voices, share laughter, and see the color of each other’s eyes under the sun.
“I had prayed for all the great characteristics in a man that I see in Tony,” Lexy shared
Tony flew to Kentucky to finally meet Lexy and he had no idea that he was about to meet the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. Online relationships can be unpredictable, but in their case, meeting in person was better than any text message or Facetime call they had shared.
After their first meeting, the couple knew they couldn’t live without each other. However, being responsible parents, they were cautious to introduce their children to their new partner, as their safety and wellbeing was of utmost importance. Lexy slowly and carefully introduced Tony to her six boys, and they addressed him as “Mr. Thomas” for a long time until the couple got married.
The couple met on a dating website and after meeting in real life, they knew they couldn’t live without each other
Eventually, Tony proved that he was the perfect partner for Lexy and a loving father figure for her boys, and the couple tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony. The man who was once called “Mr. Thomas” quickly became an integral part of the family, always putting the children’s needs first and making sure they felt loved and secure. The boys soon developed a strong bond with Tony and couldn’t imagine their lives without him.
Tony knew Lexy was a package deal and graciously embraced the role of the father
Blending families can be tricky, especially when there is a separation of “mine” and “yours” children. However, it wasn’t an issue for the Thomas family. Tony and Lexy considered all seven children, including Tony’s daughter Alexis from his previous marriage and Lexy’s six boys, as their own. Tony went on to adopt all of them and gave them his surname.
Lexy shared in an interview, “All of the kids have the surname Thomas and Tony is listed as their father on their birth certificates. One of our boys even changed his first, middle, and last name upon being adopted.”
Since then, the couple welcomed two children together, adding to the beautiful family
The Thomas family has since welcomed two new members, one-year-old Autumn and nine-month-old Lexton. Although their house may be full of chaos, it is overflowing with love. Sibling rivalry over the last bowl of cereal might happen, but it doesn’t overshadow the immense love and bond they share.
The blended family requires a lot of love – and a lot of supplies
Meeting someone who would love you is a miracle in itself, but having someone who would love your kids, well, that could be the proof that a higher power exists. Lexy herself believes that Tony was the answer to her prayers: “I had prayed for all the great characteristics in a man that I see in Tony. I didn’t pray for, like, a super weird husband, but that’s what I got. But then I got all these other things.”
Tony also got more than he bargained for, but he is grateful for six new sons – after all, he always wanted a boy.
“She had more kids than I had ever considered that I wanted. But I prayed for a boy, and she had six of them, and now we have two children of our own.”
There is never a quiet moment in their house – but also never a dull one, either
The Thomas family now resides in sunny Florida and shares their adventures on social media, with an impressive 220K followers. Their story is a testament to the power of love, luck, and timing, and the importance of building a strong foundation for a blended family. While some people might view their partner’s children as a hindrance, Tony saw them as a blessing. In the future, he will have a dozen grandchildren who will carry on his surname and the lesson of love that he has taught them.
It’s time to break the negative stereotypes of stepparents that we see in fairy tales. Tony’s story shows that many step-parents come into families with open arms and open hearts, ready to step up when they’re needed. Let’s give a big round of applause to all the great stepmoms and stepdads out there!
Image credits: lexy.thomas9
