Examples

Back in September my ex bought us season tickets to this wonderful little musical theater company up in Davis. It is a great little place, the actors are incredible, and I really look forward to their productions every 6 weeks. Well of course last night was the first production since he left and of course it just had to be one of my favorites, "Oklahoma!". I just couldn't miss it! I had so many emotions going on- sad because I didn't want to miss it because it was my favorite, sad because I knew if I sat in our seats I would think of them as "our" seats and remember the other productions we sat through together, mad that he would possibly cause me to miss my favorite production, and well just MAD!

Of course everyone I asked had plans for the night, and then I decided to take my 11 year old daughter. I was around the same age when I saw it for the first time, and she is really beginning to take an interest in the theater. So I asked her if she would like to go, she said yes and away we went. It is about a 45 min drive to the playhouse from where we live, and in that time she talked my ear off in a way she hasn't in weeks. Talked to me about things I know she wouldn't have if we were just at home, she smiled, I smiled, and I just enjoyed my time with her.

My heart caught a little when we sat in our seats, but it settled down when I saw her face light up as Curly started singing "Oh what a beautiful morning". She smiled through the whole thing and most of all I really enjoyed myself with her. Was it hard being there for the first time without my husband- OF COURSE. But it was incredible making this new memory with my daughter.

I want my kids to look back at this time in our lives and remember their mom as being strong and doing the best she could. Yes it is ok to see me break down now and again, I believe they need to see that so that they know that is ok too- but I want them to know that when something like this happens you don't just curl up in a ball and let the world eat you, you go out there and you survive. I want them to see that is what I did, I did whatever I did to survive. As much as it hurt, as much as I wanted to curl up in a ball, as much as I wanted to let the world continue on without me, there is no way I can or will let that happen.

My kids need to see what a strong, powerful, beautiful, faithful,and loving woman looks like. My son needs to see it so he knows what to look for when choosing a wife, my daughter needs to see it so she can live my by example. Examples.... we are living them every single day no matter what our life circumstances are.