I explain

"Erin, are you married?" Abby asked me shortly before our trip.

"No, Abby, I'm just...doing my own thing.  I sweat on dates."

Emma chimed in: "Why? Dates seem fun. Bring extra deodorant."

"Deodorant is a positive, but it only takes you so far."

They never bothered me about it again. Then tonight happened.

I had the girls to myself.  Upon returning from a trip for ice cream, a guy opened the door to the lobby of our apartment building.  All three of us said "Merci", but he continued to speak to me in French.  Between my stumbling French and his butchered English, we understood one another.  Abby and Emma smiled at me without ceasing.  We parted ways when the girls and I reached our third story apartment.  "He's a prince, you know," Abby said once we were inside.

Sure enough, an hour later, we noticed a note addressed to "la jeune et jolie fille au pair" slip underneath our door, followed by the sound of quick feet running down the stairs.  Emma dove for the note and read his invitation to coffee.  I asked the girls their thoughts.

Emma:  "I mean, what would be cooler, a French boyfriend or a Michigan one?  Let's all go on a date to the park and wear deodorant."

Abby: "I think he seems nice.  I just want you with whoever will come to our parties we throw."  

They created a list:

Erin's True Love

super daring

has two legs and wears pants

loves Jesus

"owns a garden for Erin to paint flowers in"

buys frappuccinos 

has no cat

is loving

tall and handsome

likes salad

To their dismay, I told them I wouldn't be going on a date with a French stranger.  Of course, this was after Emma had written a Google-translated response, complete with kisses and hand sanitizer in place of perfume. 

I explained to them that if there is someone someday, he will be someone who was placed in my life to challenge me to be a better person; to be more like Jesus.  I then assured them that he will also fit their extremely specific list.  And you know, maybe that person is reading this post.  Maybe not.  Maybe it's a long time away, or maybe it's not at all.  Maybe it truly is the French stair guy with good manners and really bad cursive.  All I know is that we are born to be made more and more holy, bound by blood and love that's not our own.  And I believe that things like relationships and marriage are for that whole "holy" process; that in service to (and with) one another, you serve Him.   You do good, you live well, and you serve Him.  
It was a mere coffee invitation, and I fully realize its unattachment and simplicity.  But I wanted to tell the girls something with some substance when I explained why I won't go.  On this trip, I am finding that simple tasks and conversations for adults are great opportunities to be lessons for kids.  I didn't think it'd be appropriate to brush off what had happened, or to show them the movie "Taken".  I hope that although tonight was fun, Emma and Abby realized a piece of that explanation.  I hope they know it is ok to say "No", to have an idea of what to wait for, and that they do have choices.  I hope it helped them gain insight into the abundant and wonderful marriage that their parents have.  I hope I showed them Jesus too.

As I tucked them into bed, Abby said, "Please just have a wedding already."

I think I'm in trouble when they wake up.