GREAT thread, PCB! I loved reading all the responses.

I have learned:

Nice things get broken and wrecked.
The meaning of sacrifice, even in the middle of the night when its the last thing on earth I want to do...that's right, sacrifice.

BUT, I have also learned:

there is no purpose in life in THINGS, even nice ones.
every ounce of sacrifice made is more than made up for.
There truly is nothing better than watching your baby grow and blossom into a toddler and then into a child.