Perspective

Perspective is something that I have come to appreciate as I have become older and more mature. It's a way that I can relate the situations and circumstances that define my life and be able to maintain a sense of understanding and peace. I've always been a 'glass half full' person and I give most of the credit to having a strong sense of perspective; "there's always something worse that could happen."

It was Water Wednesday today at the local park and with the temperature above 70 by 10 am I had decided to load up Grace and my niece Justin and head over for some fun and water play. Justin is 9 and rode her bike, and I got in a good workout pushing Grace in our jogging stroller. The walk is only about 15 minutes but we were ready to cool off when we got there! We played with friends, ate a picnic lunch and played some more. Once it became clear that it was nap time we headed home.

Along the way, as I maneuvered the stroller over railroad tracks my iphone must have hopped out of the cup holder. I didn't notice until a block later. Unfortunately, in this area my phone was a goner the second it was out of my sight. I was pretty bummed, there are a lot of great pictures and videos from the last week of Grace and Justin and I hadn't had a chance to back them up yet. I was also ticked off that someone instantly picked it up, disabled the GPS, and turned it off. Thanks to Apple however, Paul was able to remotely wipe the phone clean so all my personal information is gone. But now I need a new phone, the stuff was lost, I had to face reality that there are bad people with no integrity etc etc etc.

But again, I'm a glass half full kind of girl. And today, of all days, I am glad that it was my iphone that was stolen.

An hour earlier while at the park Grace was running around like a mad woman. My monster was all over the place! She darted from activity to activity like a kid in a candy shop. So at one point I was sitting with Jessica when all the little kids walked over to a sprinkler with Jessica's sister. Two minutes later I glanced over to check on them and Grace was no where to be seen.

Now any parent knows the feeling I felt. First, a little nervous but still assured that I would spot her any second. Then as the seconds went by (which felt like minutes) I became more concerned, and finally as the minutes went by (feeling like hours) I began to feel devastated. While I am searching every possible place in the area I am feeling as though my world is crashing around me. I am so instantly scared that my biggest fear has come true. I lost my daughter. I let her down, I can't account for her, protect her, comfort her or care for her.

I'm sure it was only a matter of minutes but Jessica found Grace. She had spotted a swing set across the entire park and had made a bee line. Once she got there and realized she was alone she got upset. So it must have been a relief to see her Aunt, but things were not okay until we were reunited. I don't think I have ever felt so many emotions as I held my crying child; rubbing her back, cooing to her, hugging her, and at the same time comforting myself.

The rest of the day I have been recovering. I've had to stop running through the what-if's because I don't think I could handle it. But the point is she is okay, I am okay, we are together. It is by the power and grace of God and it was His will that she was protected and returned to me. For that I am grateful in way that is unexplainable.

So I guess I have a new perspective, after a day like today, my glass is running over. I will praise Him for what He has done for me and tomorrow I will buy a new phone.

Family Fun Day

One of the things that I love most about Paul is that when something is important to him, he gives it his everything. This is especially true when it comes to our family, Paul works extremely hard to provide us with everything that we need and often things that we want. Unfortunately this also means that he works many hours, including working evenings and weekends when he can. So this limits the amount of quality family time we get together. 

Last Saturday Paul surprised Grace and I with a family fun day. He got us up, packed up, loaded in the car and on the road. We headed to Sherwood for 'Cruisin' Sherwood' for their annual classic car show. It was a great time just walking around and looking at cars. Grace enjoyed looking at the cars and people so much that she even stayed in her stroller most of the time! The car show was also paired with the Farmers Market so there was plenty to look at!

We spent almost 3 hours just enjoying each others company, the sunshine and the sights. It was a great time to connect and just be a family, and it was free! These are the moments that mean most to us, we may not get as much time together but we are making a conscious effort to savor every chance that we have.

"My no baby!"

Last night as I was getting Grace ready for bed she spoke words that first made my jaw drop and second made my heart sink; "My no baby!" My 21 month old is already telling me that she is no longer my baby and is now a "biii gill" (big girl) How is this happening? Wasn't it just last week that we were cooing over her first words? Or wasn't it last month we were hoping and praying that I would stay pregnant long enough to develop those tiny lungs? How is she now telling me that she's not a baby!

Everyone tells you that you need to 'cherish every moment' and 'they grow up so fast.' If only I could have truly understood what that meant before the first 21 months have already flown by! But you can't slow time, and you definitely can't go back. So I have learned to actively and intentionally 'cherish every moment.' Here's a few ways that I make sure that even as time is flying by, Grace and I are making memories and not regrets. 

• SHE is more important than my iPhone. Always. Calls, texts, emails, facebook - whatever. It all comes after her. I once read a friend say that if you tell your child to wait while you update your facebook - you are telling you child they are less important than facebook.
• We play. We play at home, we play at the park, we even play at the grocery store. Especially at the toddler age ANY activity can become a game - and let me tell you things are far less stressful when you are laughing at each other. 
• We learn. Same as with play - we learn everywhere. My child is a sponge and I am her greatest teacher. She is also my greatest imitator - so if I take the time to show and explain things to her I am not only teaching her the ways of the world, but I am teaching her that I value her growth and I choose to invest in her. 
• We worship, dance, and read. We use bible stories and songs to talk about what we do during our day and how we can do it in a way to please God. 
• I pray. I pray constantly for my daughter. I pray with her and for her. It absolutely melts my heart to hear her sweet little voice end our prayers with "Ahmeen"

Don't get me wrong, we have our fights, our standoffs, temper tantrums and bad days. But each day I try to choose joy - to make choices during the day that reflect how grateful I am for the gift of raising an amazing child who will always be 'my baby.'