Illustration Friday - "Sacrifice"

"For Darrin"

I struggled a long time with this topic. I thought about trying to illustrate the way trees are sacrificed for silly human commercialism. I thought about the sacrifice mothers make for their children. I even thought about trying to make my own version of an aztec 'sacrifice' illustration. Nothing really felt right.

Then I saw the trace of tears in my husbands eyes when he returned from the airport Saturday afternoon. He had just come home from sending his two children back to their mom, after their yearly two week stay with us. He sacrifices so much, every single day, just to be with me. And yet, he says, it's all worth it.

So, this is for him... I hope I never forget just how much that man loves me.

(Just to clearify a bit...so you all don't think I'm a homewrecker...Darrin and I are both from previous failed marriages. We met online, though a mutual friend, and became very good friends. It became apparent after about 6 months that we'd be crazy not to meet. So, in January of 2002 I flew to Colorado and spent four of the best days of my life with him. On February 12, 2002, Darrin left Colorado and drove 22 hours straight (after a root canal earlier that morning...what a guy) so he could be with me on Valentine's Day. He's been here ever since, and I couldn't even begin to imagine life without him. If I didn't have four kids of my own here in Seattle, I'd move to Colorado with him in a heartbeat, so he could be with his kids. It's a tough situation for everyone involved.)