Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Timely reminders to enjoy the little moments....

On Sunday, it was another sweltering day in Southern California.  We were invited to a friend’s house for a swim.

Dempsey is like a little mermaid, she adores the water, splashing and duck diving and pestering everyone around to "Get in!"



We sat in the shade of the cabana and sipped cold beers and devoured a hot hawaiian pizza.  And while enjoying a lazy afternoon, one of my friends pointed out a bird’s nest hanging from a light under the cabana.



The mother bird inside the nest....


We watched in fascination as the mother bird fluttered in above us and dropped morsels of food into the tiny squawking beaks of her babies.



And it reminded me of the cycle of life.

How, like a mother bird, we nurture and protect and nourish our young.  Through guidance and support we help our young ones grow.  We try to foster them into little people who hopefully, when the time comes, and they are old enough to fly away from our nest, they’ll have the tools to cope with life’s challenges.

As a mother, or a parent, that is my sole aim, my purpose in this life….and I realized we are no different than that mother bird, feathers or not! :)
 
It doesn't seem that long ago that I was spooning mashed veggies into Dempsey's mouth...

And this week I’ve been reminded by a few occurrences that time is rushing by…the kids are growing up, and getting older.  I wish I could pause this lovely time in my life. But I can’t. There is no stopping the clock.


 My sister's 4 beautiful children, Alexander, Fraser, Emerald and Charlotte

Tone’s sister Katie sent me some photos of my sister's four children taken on the weekend. I cried as I studied this gorgeous picture!  They all look so much older, happy and so grown up…..in just the seven months since I’ve seen them!

Time is marching forward and when I saw the photos it was a brutal reminder of that…also, of the many special moments my sister Tarnia has missed out on in their lives.



It doesn’t seem so long ago and they were only babes…..where has that time gone?


Dempsey at 18 months :)


And it feels like yesterday that Dempsey had a fascination with toilets, how, with a dummy stuck in her mouth, she’d shove toys down our toilet bowl if you left the door open…happy memories!

Yes, time is flying. And in less than two weeks she’ll turn 9! I can’t believe I’ll have a 9 year old!

Demps at Party City

On Saturday, I had the privilege of watching her choose goodies for her upcoming party.  And I had to laugh, and cringe as she grabbed a string of green beads with a ‘Sweet 16’ emblem and placed it around her neck. “I can’t wait to buy this mummy!” She said!   Well, I can. :)

I’m in no rush…..yes, the past few days have reminded me to savor the little moments with my daughter, and take lots of mental pictures.

Life isn’t about material things.  It's about enjoying and noticing the little moments, and creating memories…

Like having Dempsey dripping wet from swimming, wrapped up in a warm towel on my lap, smelling like a summer day.....

Or watching the wonder on her face as she noisily jumps up and down on her pogo stick, trying to break her record….




It's silently standing by, seeing her engrossed in the pages of a book, on the floor of Barnes and Noble

Or simply being aware of the wonder on her face and the quietness in her being as I read her a story on the couch at the end of the day.



Last night, as another summer day was drawing to an end, I watched Dempsey in our backyard, smiling, swinging her hips as she finally mastered the hula hoop.





I got goose bumps as I watched in awe...smiling to myself as the hoop went around and around…like the cycle of life.

And while I've had reminders this week that you can't stop time...maybe, just maybe.......the best is yet to come…….


.

10 comments:

  1. Diana sharing your memories, both joy filled and sorrow filled, create healing. Photographs are a way of looking back to remind us of some of the 'small' details we may otherwise forget. Your sister's children are remarkable and, as usual, the delightful Dempsey gives me something to smile about.
    Love and gratitude for finding your way into my life my friend. Chez ♥
    'Give not over thy soul to sorrow; and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel. Gladness of heart is the life of man and the joyfulness of man is length of days.'
    Ecclesiastes

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  2. Chez,

    Love and gratitude to you my friend...I feel very lucky to have met you through my blog and am always inspired by your strength.

    I always fell when I read your comments it's something my mum would've said.

    I hope one day in Oz to meet you in person and give you a real hug!

    sending healing hugs to you
    Diana x

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  3. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting ~ I wrote a 3 part series on losing 3 spouses through death and how I healed ~ wonder if you might have read it ~ This post of yours today seems very up beat and that healing is taking place ~ My thoughts and prayers are with you even though I don't know you ~ Life is the gift and there is lots of Life in those photos and lots of Loving memories ~ Both will help to 'move forward' each day ~ The book The Prophet by kahil gibbon is excellent about life and all its issues ~ At any rate ~ enjoy the weekend with your wonderful family ~ ^_^

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  4. Hi Carol....

    Yes, I did read your heart wrenching journey and of course keep reading because you inspire me in the way you live your life now after loss. I sorry you've had to deal with so much loss in your life.

    For me, grief and healing go hand in hand, I have to have my bad days to appreciate the good ones it seems...I cant ever see that will change, especially with Savannah forever gone.

    You are right, there are many beautiful memories attached to my photos...my mum used to say "At the end of the day Darling, all we have is photos and our memories" I so get what she meant now.

    love to you Carol, and thanks as always for your encouraging loving words.

    Diana x

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  5. Diana, dear, I just had to say: The photo of Dempsey chilling her tootsies in the toilet is priceless ♥

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  6. Hi gorgeous Marty!

    Thanks for stopping by and for the smile your comment left with me!

    What you can't see in that photo is that Dempsey has an elmo doll shoved down the s-bend, its funny, he's never quite worked the same since.

    I'm glad she's grown out of that habit!

    Thanks for all you do for the grieving community...you are a true gem!

    sending love to you
    Diana x

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  8. ♥ All we ever have is today ♥
    Thank you for this heartfelt share,Diana.
    xo

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  9. Thanks Tabitha for stopping by and leaving your lovely insightful comment.

    You are right, today may be all we have and if we can appreciate that then we are lucky I think.

    Sending sunshine your way.
    Diana x

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