Cherish Those Little Moments

Tomorrow, like most mornings, will drive my kids to school and it is usually a great way to start the day. We laugh. We talk. We renew our familial bonds. It has become a tradition, if you will. It is a few minutes for us to talk, argue, laugh, or just sit in silence. No matter how we spend those 10 to 15 minutes, we are connecting.

It is a simple little thing for me to drop off my kids on my way to work. It is one of those many little moments that occur in my life that I am learning to be present in. It is one of those little things that I do with my kids that will count in the long run for them and for my self.

Our lives are full of those little moments that just flitter by and will disappear without notice if we are not present in them.

How often, and think real hard on this, have you had one of those moments with someone and you wish that it could have lasted longer? Gone differently? Or worse yet how many of those little moments have you forgotten?

Those precious little moments in our lives are very easily lost in our memories. They can sneek in at some later point in our lives when we least expect it. Just a brief flash of memory that can bring back a flood of emotions and possibly some "what-ifs".

How often have you thought of taking time to do something special for yourself and just let that moment pass you by? Yes, we do have little moments that could be used to better our relationship with our selves as well.

Each one of those little moments can strengthen relationships with those around us. Whether they are with family, friends, ourselves, coworkers or even strangers. A friendly smile, an "I love you", a warm hug, a shared laugh, or any other form of communication during one of those little moments can change someone's day and maybe even their lives.

Take the time today to be aware of those little moments. Being aware of them can change your perspective on how you interact with other people and yourself.

Make the choice to be present and enjoy those little moments that are blessings in themselves.

Blessings and Love,
Andrea Faye

Taking the Initiative

I was astonished, my first year in Idaho, at just how much snow could fall in one night. Every year since then I have noticed less and less snowfall.

This morning I looked out my window in hopeful anticipation of a "White Christmas" only to see the dull green grass and a clear blue sky. My Kiddos and Hubby were also disappointed.

We did the usual Christmas morning, present-opening-chaotic-mess-making-merriment. After all was picked up, tried on, played with and not put away, Hubby and I walked into the kitchen to make some food and talked about how pretty the mountains must be with all the snow up there...

...we put the food away...

...told Kiddos to bundle up...

...loaded into my wagon...

ROADTRIP!!!!

Yes we went on a Christmas Day Roadtrip into the mountains!

Just about 100 miles from home we found a beautifully white oasis to play in the wet fluffy stuff! Snow balls flew as soon as everyone got out if the car!

We even went out on the edge of the lake near by and skated on the ice! (It was the first for my Kiddos and I!)

We were exhausted, cold, and soaked by the time we stumbled back to the car.

We dusted off snow, kicked off footwear, peeled off socks, cuddled under blankets and blasted the car's heater.

We were red cheecked and red nosed happy!

We had so much fun we didn't remember to make a snow man!

We stopped at the first gas station found open and got hot chocolate for the Kiddos.

We listened to one of our audiobooks, enjoyed the scenery, and the Kiddos napped on the way back down.

We saw bald eagles, geese, ravens, deer. We examined animal prints in the snow by the lake.

We enjoyed Nature's bounty!

More importantly...we rook the initiative to GO and have the Winter experience we had wanted.

We went and did.

We Did Not sit and mope. We Did Not complain about not being able to do or not do.

We went and did!

We took the initiative of going where we needed to go and accomplished what we wanted to accomplish.

We took the initiative!

It was a magical few hours that almost didn't happen. Memories that almost didn't occur. A family milestone was almost missed!

Take the initiative in your life!