love is

love is...

brushing your wife's hair until you both fall asleep.

giggling over nothing.

telling your wife she can buy the new Tyra Banks book.  (I haven't bought it, by the way...)

crying together.

telling your daughter it's going to be okay, even though you're going to miss her terribly.

telling your sister you're excited she's moving halfway around the world when all you want is a hug.

making jokes with your brother about McDonald's being more important in an international move than the Church.

realizing the above statement is made barely in jest.

calmly realizing  your wife's panic is normal and hiding your own.

plotting a giant family reunion when time, money, employment, and school would normally get in the way.

trying to plow through moving your mother into her new condo so you can focus on sending your son and daughter-in-law overseas.

mourning the loss of a woman who is just as much a mother to you as the woman who gave birth to you.

going to work to provide for your family, even when work really sucks.

phone calls from across the pond discussing fish measuring spoons from Anthropologie.

felt by the words, "I love you" heard through the receiver.



I am one lucky girl to have such an amazing family.   I love you.