For My Girls...Because Sometimes it Hurts to Love Fiercely

Dear Audrey and Bailey,

Our fantastic visit with family is ending.  We’ve spent the past two weeks showing off our new home, our new city and our new country.  We’ve been all over the crowded city, in the woods, up and back down mountains and across lakes.  We’ve ridden big trains, little trains, trams, flying gondolas, busses and boats.  These two weeks have been a gift—one that we’ve slowly unwrapped through hugs and kisses, violent wake-up calls and sweet sleepy snuggles.  We’ve bickered and bantered and laughed hysterically until we cried.  This, my sweet girls is what it’s about--loving people to smithereens.  And you’ve been at the center of it all.  

We might be living in the big city--one known particularly for it’s elegant architecture, music, art and café scene, but you have made it yours these past months.  You’ve created Audrey and Bailey’s Vienna and for now that’s my favorite place to be—where we’re carving out a little slice of sunshine in a crowded and often cold-hearted place.  And not only have you made it yours, but you’ve shared it beautifully.  You’ve shown your family this city through your eyes and it’s an amazing thing…even though it sometimes involves screaming or falling asleep, drooling on someone’s shoulder.

 I am so proud of you…for being yourselves—for loving as only the two of you can. You are incredible girls and it makes my heart swell to let others see just how amazing you are.  

Now we’re getting to the bitter sweetness; the last moments when everyone knows something cherished and precious is coming to an end.  But this will be a gift too.  We love fiercely because we know our loving spans oceans.  We shed tears, not knowing the next time we’ll all be together, but look forward to the dreams of family holidays to come.  We’ve made memories enough to feed our souls until then…at least that’s how we can stand to bridge the gaps.  

It hurts, to tell the truth, knowing how difficult this is for you girls.  You both love so hard in totally different ways and losing this sweet-family-comfort hurts.  How could you possibly understand when it’s impossible for me to explain?  You’ve got to live the love to know it, dearies.  Just know I was there all along—to encourage you when you were shy, to reign you in when loving crossed the border into hysterics.  I was watching every day as you formed deeper bonds with everyone here.  And I’ll  still be here when you’re struggling to wrap your hurt feelings around the sudden emptiness.  I’ll be the one trying to fill it up with as much loving as I can muster.  

At the end of the day that’s all I’ve got for you two: every ounce of love I can squeeze from my own heart.  It’s yours.

Love, Mama GiGi