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…….


.

Become a Fan