Powered By Blogger

Friday, April 10, 2015

Enjoying the present

There always seems to be something I'm looking forward to...

Spring weather 
My kid's birthday parties
Summer fun
Fall weather
Date nights with the hubby
Shopping time
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Spring Break Vacay
Easter
End of the school year 
Beginning of the school year 




This list just goes on + on...

But for those times when there is not really anything in particular to look forward to...it's kind of a let down. I'm not going to lie.

Like when your special thing you're looking forward to is...over? Then it's on to the next thing. 

For example it is so exciting to prepare for a vacation. Getting it booked. Dreaming about the scenery there and how relaxing it will be. Getting clothes for the trip. Thinking about all the fun things you will be doing. But when it is over, it's kind of sad that all that planning is done and the vacation is over. However, I do always enjoy coming home. Because I love being home with my family.

Or I can remember to my wedding day. My beautiful wedding :). All the planning, preparing and excitement prior to and during. Then the day after we went on our honeymoon. Which was full of even more excitement. Returning to our real life in our new home as a couple was also exciting. But the big fancy wedding and honeymoon was over. And it seemed like forever that I was waiting for it.

 Not all the time is this true. For example I love preparing for Christmas and looking forward to spending time celebrating Jesus' birth and being with family. Not to mention seeing my cute kiddos excitement when they open their gifts. I actually enjoy the day after Christmas, too. Because generally it's a relaxing day and fun to reminisce. And it's my sweet Mom's Birthday! Which is very fun to celebrate.

With all the exciting things that will be happening in the FUTURE...what about the PRESENT. 

The today? The NOW? 


My sweet and amazing friend from Bible study posted this recently:


I Was Dying
First I was dying to finish high school and start college.
And then I was dying to finish college and start working.
And then I was dying to marry and have children.
And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough for school so I could return to work.
And then I was dying to retire. 
And now, I am dying. .. and suddenly I realize I forgot to live.

Anonymous. Submitted by Nicole Zablocki
Find it HERE 

How true is this? It is definitely a great reminder. I remember when I was in H.S. looking forward to college. Then being done with college and working as an RN. Then I had babies and all I wanted to do was be with them as much as possible. And now that I have one in 1st grade and another headed to Kindergarten next year, I want to spend as much time in the "now" as possible. I want to soak in the time at home with my littles. Because before I know it they will be having littles of their own.

Live in the moment. Be excited about the day you are living now. Make the most out of it. Love who you are and what your calling in life is. I know I need to work on this and remind myself daily. 


Jamie :)










Monday, April 6, 2015

Airplanes and Blessings


I am guilty for doing just about anything to make my kids happy and quiet on the airplane.

 This past week when we were flying home I was not exactly prepared. In my carry on bag I had books and coloring books with crayons in the front pocket. However, that bag got checked on at the gate to go under the plane during the trip. Whoops! I completely forgot to grab those things. 

When we were on the plane I was digging through my bag finding things for my littlest ones to play with. Hey, I even let my youngest color in my new book because I didn't have any paper! The book which I purchased at the airport in hopes to read. My sweet Mom even had Smarties suckers for the kids as a last resort. They definitely came in handy at the end of the flight.



The reason I tell this story is because if we can OPEN our eyes and hearts and see other people we can experience huge blessings.

 In front of us sat one of the MOST wonderful Moms I have ever met. She had a beautiful, calm, sweet and thoughtful voice. And she was very prepared...unlike I. Next to her sat her very pretty daughter who had Autism and mostly communicated with her I Pad. In which I learned from talking to the Mom. Watching that Mom (and Dad) interact with her daughter was amazing to witness, they were such awesome parents.  Her daughter would peek through the middle of the seats and look at myself and my kids with delight. And my kids were so happy to see her as well. Across the hall sat the Mom's husband and in front of the Mom sat her other daughter and son. 

When one of my kids started getting fussy that sweet Mom let us have 2 pages of Disney matching cards to play with. And how helpful that was because the kiddos were intrigued by them. She was like an angel. She spoke to me and wanted to find out more about where we were from and how our trip was. She had her own family to care about but out of the goodness of her heart she wanted to show us love. 


Because of that Mom this airplane ride went more smooth. She was an absolute inspiration and I feel completely blessed to have met her and her beautiful family!

Lovingly,
Jamie