the dream

This morning when Elizabeth woke up, she told me that she wanted to draw a picture of a dream she had last night. Since I was in the middle of preparing breakfast, I grabbed her a small notepad and pen and didn't really focus on my daughter as she sat down to sketch a picture of ... who knows what.

A kitten perhaps?

Maybe a unicorn?

After a few quiet minutes, Elizabeth proudly presented the drawing from her dream. This is a picture of me. With six babies in my tummy. Elizabeth couldn't recall if the total number of babies in my tummy included she and her three siblings, or if these were six new babies.

Let's just say that if either of these scenarios comes to fruition, particularly the latter, it's a good thing my husband knows CPR because I'd undoubtedly go in to cardiac arrest.

Speaking of CPR...

St is the randomly generated lucky winner of a CPR Anytime Kit! St, please send me an e-mail at TheAmazingTrips(at)gmail.com and I'll have your kit sent off as soon as I can.

And speaking of adding six new babies to our family...

I've joked before that if Charlie and I were to add sextuplets to our clan, we would refer to our family as Charlie and Jen Plus Ten. Which, of course - I borrowed that description directly from the hugely popular television show Jon and Kate Plus Eight. A show which I've only watched once or twice, because I get the premise. And there is absolutely no entertainment value for me watching a reality show in my spare time about a family that is outnumbered by multiples.

But tonight as Charlie was channel surfing, he stumbled on to Jon and Kate and together we sat and watched as they celebrated their children's fifth birthday. And at least what is being portrayed on television, as the collapse of their marriage.

At the end of the show, while they sat talking to the camera, all I could think was that although there are two sides to every story, it was clear that Jon and Kate had each dug their own trenches - erected their own walls - and were lobbing bombs over to the other side.

Yet they both said something along the lines of, "Regardless of what happens, we're going to do whatever we can to protect and make the best lives for our children."

Now I know that not all marriages can or should be saved. But by and large, the issues that divide most couples start out very simply. And it seems to me that if Jon and Kate really want to protect and make the best lives for their children, they will do whatever they can to get their marriage on the right track.

This might be extremely difficult. It might take a lot of forgiveness. It might take putting aside their pride. It might take improving their communication skills. It might take a complete overhaul and re-prioritization of their lives. It will definitely take loving each other, unconditionally.

But as the child of a divorce, there is no more important fight than the one that will keep a family together. Charlie and I will be celebrating our 15 year wedding anniversary later this year. I know that our marriage isn't perfect. But we try to make each other happy. And we know that at the end of the day, the best gift that we could ever give to our children, is the love that we have for one another.

In fact, this church service that we attended last year, is still at the forefront of our minds ... almost ten months later.

Here's yet another masterpiece drawn by Elizabeth. This depicts Charlie and I on our wedding day. (I'm the blushing bride on the left.) And in case you were wondering, Charlie's not screaming. I spoke to the artist and she verified that he is indeed smiling. And apparently, jumping up and clicking his heels.

Probably because one day, he might be the father of 10 children.