A long time ago before J was even in the picture, I remember being together with friends, one of which was recently engaged. She and her new fiancé were sharing an apple and after he had some she exclaimed "you always take the good bites!" I remember thinking isn't that what marriage is about? Being willing to sacrifice the good bites and happiness for the other person?
Don't get me wrong here – the point of this is totally not about me being a good wife. In fact J and I have gotten into fights before because he tried to eat my ice cream. No joke.
Anyway… My point IS that I have been trying to convince myself that the girls leaving is not so terrible by trying to remind myself of some of the ways life will be different when we are back to a family of Three. Here's what I've come up with… NOTHING.
It turns out I was on to something that day in the kitchen with that Apple. It turns out that is what love is all about… Being willing to give up the good bites but not having it feel like a sacrifice at all. There is nothing in this world that I could gain or regain that it would make it worth having the girls go back.
Whenever we talk to people about what we are doing, we are often asked about Why we would take on such a " burden"... Perhaps if they were any sort of burden at all I would understand that, but they so are not. These girls are AMAZING.
Tonight on our last night together for a while, we decided to surprise the girls with a lobster dinner. They both LOVE seafood And have talked about how much they love lobster. So we decided tonight was that night. They were so excited and so humble at the same time. It was probably the nicest restaurant I've ever been to in my life and I would've been just as happy getting a kids meal or just eating bread. Seeing them Enjoy something so Special was so worth it.
For every haircut that I do not get it, instead I get hugs and kisses and thank you's every day. They appreciate every. Single. Thing. We have done for them. For every new outfit that stays on the rack, I see or hear them do something for each other that is so sweet it just shows their love for each other is so deep. For every square foot that some people think is missing in our house, we are blessed with having all of our rooms filled with the most amazing children in the world. For every fancy dinner date night that we forgo, we are lucky enough to be around the table with these girls who are so funny loving and compassionate. And for every vacation we do not take, we get to spend every day Living and loving The people who make every day worth waking up for.
I guess when you love someone with all your heart, sacrifice is not a sacrifice. And do you learn that the good bites Have nothing to do with giving anything up… It's all about what you gain from the love of those sitting around your family table with you.