My Birthday Week and My Wonderful Gift

It is my birthday week. 

For me, it has always been that the week(s) leading up to my birthday were fair game for being celebrated. Brad jokes about this because I like to start celebrating a week or two early and then often carry the celebration on after the actual date of my birth passes. He would rather no one even know it is his birthday. 

Since we have had kids, my birthday importance has slipped through the cracks. A lot of things have slipped through the cracks. Or gained cracks, physically speaking. Last year I had a 2 week old on my birthday. The last thing my flabby self wanted to do was go out in public. The thing is, I'm now okay with my once "important" day being overlooked. It actually pails in comparison to my family. It is amazing how your perspective changes after  these little, all-consuming people enter into your world. 

Thursday morning I am leaving for the Women's Retreat at our church. Brad will have the kids all by his lonesome until Sunday evening. I think that is better than any gift he could give me, don't you? The few times I have gone away without Brad and the kids I look forward to it, but I also carry a sense of guilt about leaving. Partially because it always seems like a good idea in theory and then when the time gets closer, I don't want to leave my family. And partially because I always feel bad leaving Brad with the kids. He is wonderful with them and can 'hold down the fort'(probably better than me), but that is a lot of responsibility to place on him. 

Before Brad popped into my life, I  knew that I wanted to marry a man that would be there when we had children.  Not just there physically. Not just at the sporting events or school functions, but that was as much a parent to his children as I would be. I had seen all too many marriages where the mother had to leave a list of instructions for the father, just to be gone for an hour. I grew up knowing women who trusted babysitters with their children more than they did their own husbands. I never wanted that. I wanted to be able to leave the house and be confident that my husband knew the drill, had the schedules down, and could handle the children. The Lord has answered my prayers one hundred fold. 

Though I feel guilty leaving my family for days at a time, in the end, I know it is good for everyone. My times away always make me feel more appreciated and loved, as well as refreshed and encouraged. 

I am looking forward to my 'retreat' and time of connection. But, as I leave, I know that it is not without the sacrifice of someone else. Thank you babe...my heart if overflowing with love for you!