A Good Day

Today was beautiful. I love the heat of the Florida sunshine. I've only seen snow one time in my life on a ski trip in the 9th grade. That was enough... I missed the sand.

This afternoon my kids and I jumped in the SUV, picked up my niece, and drove towards the beach.

When we arrived the kids immediately started digging a "hot tub" with their shovels and buckets. Then they made pillows out of the sand. Then castles.

The waves were pretty big. We went in the water to cool off, jumping over breaking waves and squealing as each one knocked us over.

As the kids were building their various creations together, I took a moment to just soak in the perfect moment that was happening. I mean really just sat there, with tears in my eyes, thanking God for this perfect moment, trying to sear the memory into my brain.

I lost a good friend to cancer last week. Her Celebration of Life service was yesterday. Just a couple months ago she was giving me advice about my Kindergartener who was being mischievous at school. She was a mentor and a friend in so many ways. The impact of her life was shown yesterday as countless people gave testimonies of how she encouraged them, sacrificially gave of her time, efforts, talents. It was amazing to hear. Now she's gone.

Just like that.

Life is such a fragile thing.

We always say that, but yet we often don't live like we believe it.

So today I savored every little moment intentionally. I gave to others sacrificially. I reflected with a grateful heart all God has done for me. I spent time with good friends. And I sit here in gratitude for one more day I've been given here on earth. I tried to make a difference.

I really want to live every day like I did today.

Four Generations

L to R: My Mom Sherry, My Niece Aubree, Grandma McCarthy, My big sister Alisa, My daughter Zoe, and me

Can I just get a WOOT for what a fine bunch of women this is? 

I gotta say...my Grandma is pushing 90 and her legs are still lookin might good.  haha.  

My Grandma McCarthy has been loosing her memory due to dementia/Alzheimer's over the past four years since my Grandpa passed away.  It's been difficult for all of us to watch, but I guess that's just the circle of life or whatever you call it.  She didn't know who I was a couple weeks ago when I came to visit her.  I'm pretty sure she didn't know who my sister was either.  Ouch.  We just chatted anyways and tried to carry on as much of a conversation as we could.  

I try to hold on to those "good ole days" memories.... not even Alzheimer's can take those away from me!  Here are some of my favorite things that take me to my happy place....

 

Grandma and Grandpa lived on a lake and Grandpa would fish with us outside.  If we caught enough... Grandma would fry them up for dinner.  =)  

Grandma SHOULD have tried out for Jeopardy. She watched faithfully EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.  In fact, if I called them on the phone between 7:30-8:00 p.m.  I usually got yelled at.  

Grandma is a great example of a supportive mother and wife.  She always kept a tidy and clean house and her love for my Grandfather was never failing.   Their marriage was an example for all of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  

Both of my grandparents spent a lot of time with me growing up.  I have lots of memories playing cards and games around their kitchen table, taking walks into downtown Safety Harbor for a soda, fishing in the back yard, playing croquet, reading books, creating oil paintings and crafts, playing their organ, and perusing through the many family pictures they kept out in their living room. 

I treasure these memories in my heart closely and look forward to the many more memories I will make with my family in the days that God blesses me with in the future.  

Living in the Moment...

Living in the moment was once something I did REALLY REALLY well as a kid. I never really worried about stuff. I lived my life trying to find the next adventure. Somewhere along the path of mortgages and having children I lost the carefree spirit that I *used* to be. It seems like I spend about half my time now worrying about my kids and my family's future... and it's really not fun. Finances, Doctor appointments, blood sugars, health, marriage... there's so many things now that I'm a wife and a mom.
A friend of our family passed away last week from a sudden diving accident in the Florida Keys which I guess has me worrying more about this than usual. He was only 18 years old. Here's a link to a great article our local paper wrote about him. While I didn't really know him (I grew up with his older sister and brother) It sure sounds like this kid knew how to live life in the moment and love everyone around him at the same time. As I hugged Josh's sobbing father on Saturday afternoon, I was overcome with compassion and gratitude for the family God's blessed me with.
I woke up this morning, after a somewhat restless night's sleeping feeling tired of living my life with this burden of worry. And TODAY I'm making a conscious effort to try to live life in the moment. Not worrying about what I have to get done next, where I'll be next year, but truly focusing on the fact that RIGHT NOW I am blessed to have THIS PERFECT MOMENT with my kids, my husband, and my family and friends. Knowing that God has given me TODAY to show others His love.
We spent the whole morning in the back yard playing in the sunshine and as I laid sprawled out in my big pink lawn chair, I smiled and thanked God for today.