30 Days of Gratefulness | Day 20 & 21 | Laughter & Youth

When I was younger, all I ever wanted to be was OLDER. Yes, it's true. In our youth, we wish for 'more years' and in our older years, we wish for our youth again.

Looking back on my youth, and I've probably said this many times before, but we had so much fun. My sisters and I fought like the dickens - but when it really came down to it - we flippin' adored each other. Today, we're BEST friends. And boy do we LAUGH! I definitely think the saying is true ... "Laughter is the best medicine."

Grateful for the memories of my youth - and the laughter we shared - and continue to share in our adulthood! LIFE would not be the same without these moments - without the laughter - without my sisters.

TIME Out

Time is a funny thing. It moves so quickly. At this pace that most often, you can never keep up with. Time makes me remember that it is in fact, fleeting. I don't have all the time in the world - yet - I long for more time, daily.

When I think about my time left on this earth, I want to make it lasting. I want my time to not be wasted on being angry. On being hopeless. On being right. On being wrong. I want my time spent embracing every single moment I am privileged to share with those that I love the most. Because in the end, those are all you have. Moments.

I think about my life, up to this point, and I cannot even describe all the amazing moments I've been privileged to have - and now remember. Growing up, my parents gave us the world. At least in our youth, that's what it felt like. They loved us. And sacrificed for us. They loved us with reckless abandon.

As an adult and parent now, I'm forever grateful for the time they spent with us - to show us the important things in life. That the BEST things in life cannot be bought. And that even in trying times, if you give it over to the Creator of all things, He will bring you out on the other side.

These are the things I want to pass onto my son Eli. I want him to know that despite life's ups and downs, that HOME will always be a place of refuge. That God can do all things, big and small. And that no matter how bleak tomorrow looks, we have today. To live in the moment, and embrace the beautiful 'things' we have been blessed with.

I never thought I wanted to become a parent years ago. To think about that thought now, I ask myself, 'what was I thinking?!' I've found some of the greatest joy in his almost two years of life than I've ever known. My time with him is CHERISHED. And I'm forever grateful that God thought me worthy enough to become a mother. And my husband a father.

I'm thankful for my TIME. I'm thankful that I still get to enjoy the moments of daily living. And I'm forever grateful for the CHERISHED memories that I've made along the way. I never want to take another one of them for granted. Because no one is promised tomorrow. And TODAY is all we have.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” ~ Mother Teresa

Eli's smile makes me smile from ear to ear. He looks at things in awe and wonder and I'm so thankful I get to call him my son. He makes me so happy. And I cannot say it enough - I'm so grateful God blessed us with him. :)

Beautiful Boy

The joy of a child is contagious. I just LOVE the energy, spirit, LIFE they have, pretty much ALL the time. It's a beautiful thing.

Our nephew Max is two - he will turn three in October, and it's hard to believe how fast the time has gone since he was born. It feels like just yesterday we were in the hospital, waiting for his arrival.

He was the FIRST grandchild and what JOY he brought and still brings to our family. Since his birth, we've welcomed two more grand babies into the world - our sister Elysia's little boy Cooper - and my son, Eli. Cooper will be two in November and Eli will be one in December. Amazing these little boys are ... what gifts they are - blessings.

These are just a few recent photos of Max - in all his silliness and innocence. He's a beautiful boy with so much life and character. Can't wait to see the other two grow - and for the play dates ahead, with all three, together. :-)