Sacrifice or Selfishness.....

I love my wife.

I love my wife's family.

I really enjoy living in Belpre. As I said before, it is a really nice town to raise a family in, with many opportunities to raise a family that will stay around, and not move away.

I really enjoy working for the Lowe's in Athens. I have been in the store, as a manager, longer than anyone else in the store. I know the store, and my employees really enjoy having me as a manager.

There is also a part of me that longs to live back up near my family, and that is my struggle.

I truly believe that I am missing some of the best years of life with my side of the family. From time away from my siblings, to my parents getting older, and are in the grandparenting part of their lives. I see my sisters and brothers growing up, and miss certain times that are spent together, whether it be holidays, or just random get-togethers. I know my parents sometimes miss having my kids up there, to spend more time with their grandchildren.

Most of all, I miss the times that my family are around the family members with struggles, with ailments, and so wish I can be there.

I see my Grandma Dowell improving, and am very thankful. For a certain amount of time, there were possibilities that may have allowed her struggle to go the opposite direction. I see, if only for an hour every so many months, her yearning to improve, and it makes me happy. I would love so much to see this more frequent, and for longer amounts of time.

I know that my Great-Grandma Alspaugh will be going through a terrible struggle with cancer, and I will only be able to see, and support her, for an hour or two every couple of months. This is a very difficult thing for me.... knowing that this struggle could have also been mine.

I see my siblings go out to dinner or drinks, along with my parents, and I catch only one or two a year. Believe me when I say I cherish those instances, because as we all grow up, they will be fewer and fewer, unless we intentionally change it.

Am I being selfish? I hope not. I definitely believe I am sacrificing that part of my life for my kids, and for my wife. She is very close to her family, especially her Dad and her Grandparents. They are her strongest ties to her mother. Our kids are also very much attached to her Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Denver, and to her Dad. They have all been very helpful in raising our kids, and providing strong family love.

However....

Living closer to my family is what I really hope to do in the next couple of years, I only hope that will not be too late to miss some very important points in all of their lives. I hope to continue to see my Grandma Dowell improve. I hope by some miracle Grandma Alspaugh prevails, if she chooses to do so.

Sacrifice or Selfishness? I think I will replace those words with "Love and Strength".