One blended family

My kids recently left for a holiday in Spain, France and Italy with their dad, his beloved (E), and E's 2 children. All six of them. 

At the same time my phone entirely stopped working. While I had it fixed there was the longestt break I've ever had without talking with my children. 

Felt so bad - what if they thought I didn't even think about them... Tried to contact them every time I was around a functioning phone. No success, kids' phones didn't have pre paid or other connection, their father's phone always closed. My boys don't have social media presence.

I called E from my mother's phone. She didn't answer but I was able to leave a message. I tried to swallow my tears but I think they went through anyways... Told her my phone is broken, can't reach my kids, if she could please tell them I'm thinking about them and miss them. 

She heard my unspoken tears. Being the person she is, some 10 minutes later she sent me a bundle of photos of my boys, and had told them I'd done all I could to reach them.

Such a wonder for me to see my kids, to know they understand why I've suddenly stopped calling. Such a wonder how kind she is. Well, I knew it from before but this was yet another moment that touched me deeply. 

Apparently, it is possible to make a kind of 'blended' family work beautifully. For the smiles on my children's faces, I thank her. In this photo and on that holiday are her little ones, and my sisten's kids - best friends with my boys.  Blended indeed.

They are happy. All six children.

What else matters.