Snapshots of the Mind...and the Heart

Yesterday was a parish celebration...75 year anniversary. It was a gorgeous fall day...sun, wind, and jewel toned leaves creating the backdrop.

I found myself taking mental snapshots all day.

My 6'2" boy alter serving... sporting his beard that he's grown for the football playoffs.  Hiding his yawns & trying so hard to focus on the alter.

*SNAP*

My 14 year old baby...all coltish legs and swinging hair...patiently guiding the little kids through the games. Allowing herself to delight in the childish joy with them.

*SNAP*

Standing in the food line with a newly single mom...asking her to join our table which is full of laughter...seeing her eyes light up with relief that she belongs.

*SNAP*

Seeing my husbands eyes meet mine...countless times throughout the day. Feeling the same thrill go through me as it did when I was 18 years old.

*SNAP*

Walking through the parking lot with 3 of my dearest girlfriends. A huge "Winnie-the-Pooh" blustery gust of wind blows our friends wig right off. Saying..."It's not a party till someone loses their hair!" and watching her bend over in side-splitting laughter. .

*SNAP*

Feeling the love as these girls and I sing, sway, and raise our red Solo cups ...toasting the day, the joy, the privilege of being alive and in this moment

*DOUBLE SNAP*

My mental photo album is precious.

My heart photo album is priceless.

Linking up with: Just Write~ Extraordinary Ordinary

*This is the sixth installment of Just Write, an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments. {Please see the details here.} I would love to read your freely written words so join me and link up 

Sweetness At Thirteen

Tonight was sweet...

and the reason was my little girl.

Maybe I should clarify and say she is MY little girl,

but, at 13 years of age,

she is not a little girl to anyone else.

(Well...except to her daddy and papa.)

She is an enigma at times.

All those hormones surging,

and not quite sure what to do with them

she can release them on me.

With eye rolls, indignant voice, or just the closed door...

which in itself speaks volumes,

I am not often on her "favorite" list

for more than a few minutes at a time.

But, tonight....yes tonight!

She asked ME if I wanted to go run

on the boardwalk...

with her.

Gasp!

Seriously, she will laugh with me,

but that is usually in the privacy of our home.

To actually invite me to accompany her...

in public...

to a place where her friends could see her

running along side her middle age mom

is a rare honor.

And I say that without a touch of sarcasm.

So...

we ran.

Although my feet hurt from the long day,

and my emotions were raw from some hurtful events,

we ran.

We walked when I needed a break.

We laughed.

We made fun of each others music as I took her for ice cream.

We laughed.

We arrived home and found her dad and brothers

draped upon the living room furniture watching the news.

So she and I took the floor.

She came to me fresh from the shower

and asked me to french-braid her wet hair.

She wanted rolling waves for school tomorrow.

I braided...remembering how many times I've done this task.

And then,

she curled up, her head upon my lap,

and I forgot to breathe.

I touched her hair, her back, and stroked her arm lightly.

I blinked...

and she jumped up to go reply to a text.

But I had that moment.

Actually,

I had moments tonight.

They were rare and therein, lies their beauty.

There was a day I took the hugs, laughter and hands-on care

for granted.

But that day is long gone.

Yes,

tonight was sweet.

And the reason was my little girl.