Just Write: Her People.

I was going to share some of E's first dance class pictures. {I took 43 during the 45 minute class.} And then I thought about writing some thoughts on stepfamilies and church and how sometimes I get all twitchy about it. And still yet I've had all these ideas about LESS and some things I learned {the hard way} last week.

But none of that tonight because five minutes ago M called from her mom's house.

To start planning her birthday party.

Her birthday's in March and we all decided a couple years back that we do parties through age 11, meaning this one's M's last. Since T turned 5 we've done their birthday's together and eventually starting switching off the planning. So this year's party, while we'll all celebrate together, the planning is on our end.

She's got big plans and ideas and she makes us laugh a lot.

Tonight's plan involved nine friends. The mall. And a hotel.

And I listen to her plan and tell her we'll have to see and then she drops the bombshell that her and her nine friends will be in one hotel room and then her mom, her dad, her stepdad and I will be in the one adjoining.

And J starts laughing but tries to hide it because she doesn't know she's on speaker phone.

While I don't think the four of us have any plans on sharing a hotel room anytime soon, I love that in her eyes there's nothing wrong with it.

It's a proud moment for me that amidst the daily stresses and the toll co-parenting takes, we've held it together enough.

She values and needs and loves and sees each of us as her people.

Linking up to Just Write.