Here we are on number 22 of my 25 days of thanks. Today Random.org selected Moments. To read all of my thanks check out my post here.
#22 Moments
I have written about moments before. Moments are really important to me. Moments and memories are different, yet related. A moment is a piece of time captured that can never be duplicated. A memory is remembering this piece of time. Memories fade, change with time and age and sometimes are forgotten. Even with pictures you can never feel the same way you did during that moment. This may sound depressing to some, but it is how I see things. This is why I go for the moments with full force. I want that slice of time to fill my heart and body and feel that ultimate happiness however short it may be.
Of course, moments are not always happy. This is when it is good that the moment passes quickly, that memories may change the sharp feeling you feel at the time. I have only had a few moments that where painful in my life. As I age and lose loved ones and live through more disappointments my list will grow. Maybe someday I will write about those moments. Today I want to write about the moments of my happiness that I treasure, cherish and sometimes work really hard for. I cannot write them all down here of course but I’ll cover a few.
Expected Moments
My wedding day was planned. But the feeling of happiness was amazing. At one point I realized my face hurt from all the smiling I was doing. At that moment I was a princess.
Meg’s birth was expected. I planned and planned how my labor would go. Of course it didn’t go as planned, but holding her the first time. That was my first mom moment. Her wide eyes, rapid breathing. I kept saying over and over “I know you now. I know you now.”
Elle’s birth went more along my plans, though not exactly. I had more control and they laid her naked on my chest. I honestly don’t remember a lot about her birth, but the feeling of calm was my moment.
Hearing Hubby announce to the family the girls’ names. We never share the names and make people wait to here them. It is a form of torture for some (grandmas) but a moment for us.
Meeting Mita and Enu for the first time. Meeting two children who are legally yours, yet you have never met is a bit surreal I must say. They bravely took my hands and guided me along to show us their bed, clothes and the photo album they had with baby pictures.
Planned Moments
How does one plan a moment? Very carefully and sometimes months in advanced! Getting Meg into Cinderella’s Lunch at Disney took some legwork. Making sure she had the gown, shoes and wand took some shopping. Getting her to the show on time to watch Cinderella’s Coronation and then going into the castle to meet the one and only Fairy Godmother and cinderella was a feat during the August crowd. All of this took planning and note cards and computer time. Watching it all fall into place, seeing Meg’s face full of awe and knowing that she fully believed in magic that day. A moment so worth the planning time. So worth the rolling of the eyes from others. So worth the money.
Doing it all again five years later for Mita, Enu and Elle again was just as fun. I missed the magic believing five year old in Mita and Enu since they didn’t become part of the family until they were six and eight, but they still got some magic out of the experience! The one moment that was sad during this lunch was when I realized that I would not be doing this again until I have grand-kids. I don’t know if I can wait that long for another Cinderella lunch.
Another planned moment is seeing the girls watch the Wizard of Oz for the first time. Meg was five, Mita nine, Enu seven and Elle four. I let Meg sit in my comfy chair so I could see her clearly. I had never mentioned that the black and white movie turns into color when Dorothy gets to Munchkin Land. I didn’t watch the movie. I watched Meg’s face. She like the movie. When the screen turned into color the look on Meg’s face of awe and amazement was a great moment.
With the other three girls we were in a theater for the anniversary showing. I was struggling with how to watch the girls’ faces at the same time when I heard Meg tell Mita and Enu that it turns into color. My planned moment was foiled, but Elle hadn’t heard her and I watched Elle’s face light up and heard her gasp. Another moment of magic to fill my heart!
Spontaneous Moments
Seeing your baby smile, really smile or hearing them laugh for the first time is something that feels so good.
When we first started dating Hubby and I were in a boat on his pond and I slid into the cold September water (clothes on, mind you) just to see his face.
When Mita and Enu showed me their photo album of baby pictures, it was as if God himself gave me a hug and said, here is more than you ever asked for. My new daughters saw me cry before they ever saw me laugh.
As I re-read these moments I realize that these moments are mine and no-one elses. Even Hubby who was there for all of them experienced them differently. Moments are selfish and selfish isn’t always bad I guess. So I take my kids to Disney when they are to little to remember, I travel with my kids to England and Ethiopia at young ages. I make memories and moments for me and if others share them all the merrier!
What are some of your moments?
