Time alone.
If you take the time to tune out the distractions that have become everyday fiddles for our minds and our time, you get to truly BE.ALONE. To ride in silence. To gawk at other drivers. To flip radio channels. To revisit the CDs you placed in your car a year ago and haven't listened to since.
I clicked on CD 5, not knowing what was there. I found Martina McBride and sampled the songs, smiling to myself as I sang along terribly out of tune and loud. Very loud. Song 19 came along, and I remembered why I loved it so.
"I get to hear my children laughing
Down the hall through the
Bedroom door"
Down the hall through the
Bedroom door"
Indeed Blessed is what I am. I realized in that moment, in my car, that while some people say they get 'caught up in the moment', I do not. I sometimes feel like I am thinking through all moments I should be feeling. Does that make sense?
Instead of embracing the hugs I get from my kids and just soaking up the feelings of their little arms around me, I am thinking of what else I need to do next, or what the other child I'm not hugging is doing, or whether I remembered to brush their teeth.
Now, I will close my eyes and feel. Their tiny bodies and hands and arms. I will ask for a tighter squeeze. I will tickle. I will love them in that exact moment.
Sometimes it's not just preoccupied thoughts that deter me from enjoying the moment. It is THAT moment that detracts my attention. There are times when Hubs hugs me from behind while I'm busy in the kitchen and puts his hand in places he shouldn't when the children are still awake. My first thoughts are always, "are the children watching?" or "doesn't he realize I'm just 'touched out' since I spent two hours hugging, scolding, cooking and dishing, bathing, and kissing?"
Now, I will spend more time happy that he's happy to see me. That he's there. That we're there. That the kids can see us happy together. I will spend more time thinking of these lyrics, these moments, and remembering that we are not promised a single thing except what we are experiencing in that instant. And even those are too fleeting.
I have been blessed
And I feel like I’ve found my way
I thank God for all I’ve been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones
That love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed
And I feel like I’ve found my way
I thank God for all I’ve been given
At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones
That love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed
12 comments:
Beautiful picture of you and yours... it goes well with this beautiful post.
It's nice to have a moment of realization like that... even if it's a "I need to change what I'm doing" type of realization. As long as it gets you to where you need to be, that's all that matters. And you know, I have to remind myself of that type of that thing all the time. I do.
Happy Tuesday, girl.
And what a GREAT family photo!!
Awesome family picture! Beautiful post. I've been trying to do the same lately.
And how wonderful it is to be blessed.
Oh yeah, and I'm happy to know I am not the only wife with a husband who puts his hands where they ought not be when the kids are still awake. Although, it provided the opportunity to exclaim in front of the 9-year-old, "Well, that's how #5 got started!" LOL
Oh and I love looking up from an embrace or kiss with my hubby to see my kids gawking with silly faces or wondering eyes. And I remember how good it is for them to see their parents in love.
This is so important, to live in the moment and appreciate all that we have. I'm trying to do the same.
As an aside, I used to have a 45 minute commute, and I loved it, the Me time to listen to any music I want! I miss that time. My husband was also much more laid back when he a commute.
Beautiful family!
I am so glad you have found how important it is to forget the unimportant things and take the time to enjoy what we have the at our feet. You have such a wonderful family, enjoy them. I miss seeing mine as much as I use to. I enjoy the times we do have.
beautiful! beautiful! beautiful!
i so get the "thinking through the moments i should be feeling!"
glad you're living in the 'now!'
lovely family photo!!
have missed you much! i'm back--i think! lol
I second that emotion!
Gorgeous family, enjoy them!
You are so right! I need to take the time now to enjoy the moments that my children are so willing to hug and kiss me, snuggle and cuddle me...before I know it they will be "too cool"!
What a good looking bunch you have! I love the photo!
<3. so sweet. & love that family pictures. i can't believe how fast they are growing. (i totally know how overused that phrase is, but it's totally true!)
xo-
Great picture! I love that song too - I have her CD and she really knows how to say what your feeling in the moment. Thanks for the reminder that I need to cherish those moments more. Unlike this morning fighting in the car with my 14yr old who refused to wear his sweatshirt to school in the 36 degree weather!
OH.MY.GOODNESS! LOVE YOUR FAMILY PICTURE! Jess, it is SO great! LOVE! (and love the Martina song too!)
And YES! FEEL as much as you possible can...it all goes by too quickly.
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