Over the kid's spring break, Elli and Carter went to Florida to spend time with their dad. It was my first time being apart from them for a whole week. I was nervous but they did very well. They went to Disney World, played like crazy and especially enjoyed the plane ride. I only got 3 tearful phone calls which was very nice, as usually just one weekend has that many! I missed them terribly but when it was time to come home they were a little sad to leave all the fun and come back to reality. I was very ready for them to come home however, and was sad they had a hard adjustment back. Saturday was hard, but sunday I pulled myself together, quit being selfish and immature, and actually enjoyed my sweet kids. As I was playing bubbles with them outside listening to their laughter everything was instantly better. Then as all 3 were laughing and playing Elli says, "This is better than Disney World!" Again, everything felt ok.
I truly am grateful that all three kids have good other parents who support and love them as we do. I am thankful that our relationships with our ex spouses is generally positive and we can work together well. I know it is necessary to encourage their relationships with their other parents and I do my best to. Sometimes it is hard, I wont lie. But it gets easier through time, especially with Steve by my side to help me keep perspective. It's really amazing how something that seems so impossible, hurtful, and heartbreaking at times, can, in the end, help us see God's love in his unique plan for us. I doubt it, I question it, and I miss key points of the gospel in my moments of despair. But in the end, I always return to that same spirit that has always been there for me.
