Simple Moments

I don't know about the rest of you, but life has been a whirlwind over here. Often, if I think of something I need to do, I'll put it on the backburner of my mind-for when I have time to do it later-and the next thing I know, a week has flown by. It's a joyful whirlwind, a peaceful whirlwind, and quite a bit of fun. But, it seems that every couple days, there will be a frantic burst where I have an article due for one site, an event to help out with, dishes to be done, food to cook, and tons of blog posts half-formulated in my brain. 

So it's really good, in those times, to take a step back and enjoy the simple moments that come with each exciting burst of activity. 



Over the weekend, we visited my family in Kansas. It was an awesome visit, and we enjoyed introducing Peter to our friends there, and seeing his grandparents dote on him. On Saturday, different friends-some of whom I haven't seen in a few years-came and went, visiting with us and showering us with their joy. We spent some quality time with my family, having lots of good conversations, eating lots of ice cream, and watching loads of Studio C. 
On our Sunday evening drive back to Oklahoma, I was tired after such a full, happy weekend. At one point, Peter began crying and wouldn't stop, so we decided to pull over to feed him. This stop, at a rest area, is now one of my favorite memories as a family of 3. It wasn't anything extravagant or particularly thrilling-we just parked, used the restroom and fed Peter, and ate a couple snacks. But watching the sky turn pink behind the wind turbines, seeing the sun set on the horizon, hearing birds sing loudly as they filled the trees, and watching Jacob play with our son, my heart was overflowing with joy. It was such a simple moment, but such a beautiful experience. 

I'm a doer. I like being active, and I like accomplishing several things a day. I like having a tidy home, a well-ordered life, and homemade food on the table. One of the things that I've been learning is the importance of accomplishing projects and the importance of taking a few minutes to enjoy a simple moment. The other day, Peter took an unexpected nap in the late afternoon. Immediately, I thought of 5+ activities that I could work on while he was asleep, including articles that I've been intending to write for the past 3 months. But I didn't feel myself at peace with the thought of getting incredibly busy at that very moment. I needed some stillness. So, instead of working on the 5+ things I could have done, I grabbed a book, sat next to my sleeping son, and soaked up the peaceful stillness. 

Today, I hope that you are able to make the time to enjoy the simple, fleeting moments that swoop in amid the beautiful craziness of life.