Fears and Tears

Memories are a wonderful way to bring a spark of joy in, and experience again the value of a moment. This was my Mother’s Day last weekend when my husband brought out the 2005 family movie DVD that combined a lot of short clips from our video recorder. It was quite the year of travel for us and a lot of family memories were made, and I was able to go back through time and take a trip reminiscing without leaving my house. It was a blessing to have all of our family watching under one roof, it was the best gift I could ask for.

It was quite the year for us, we had four kids under the age of seven; one, three, five and seven, a very busy and active household. A lot of silliness was captured on the film, the kids jumping and dancing around the house, holidays, birthdays, camping trips, amusement parks, school concerts not to mention the times the camera ended up in the mirror with my husband in some crazy pose and silly grin, all of this bringing me back to those precious times. The ordinary moments of our life that were extraordinary.

You’re off the great places! Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way! Dr. Suess

We traveled to Oklahoma for my nephew’s baptism, waking up to snow in Texas on our way, watching the kids dye Easter eggs, doing the hunt in the backyard, my daughter’s injured hand, all the little details I had forgotten were relived.

Our camping trips to Colorado Springs, Steamboat Springs and New Mexico that summer; the visit to Seven Falls and the breathtaking views of the cascading water and all those steps, my husband’s birthday spent at Stagecoach reservoir in Steamboat Springs watching the kids play in the lake, taking a hike up the hill and later enjoying an oreo cake singing happy birthday, the scenery of Clayton Lake in New Mexico discovering dinosaur tracks and the kids splashing in a kiddie pool my sister brought along.

The trip to Santa’s Workshop in Colorado Springs and their excitement as they rode the rides or slid down the peppermint twist slide; the trip to Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America where Charlie Brown listened as my kids shouted from the balcony above and did a pose and waved at them. The kids in their water wings at the hotel swimming pool, splashing around and having a great time. All the little things I had forgotten seemed to come alive watching the video.

The various birthday parties celebrated surrounded by family and friends. The holidays spent with family, food and fun, all this was being played before my eyes. Little did I know at the time that a year later, we would move out of state and change that dynamic, that I would miss those special moments with friends and extended family gathered around.

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Dr. Suess

This Mother’s Day was okay, if I may say; It was spent on a day watching memories play by play, keeping my tears at bay, remembering the way of yesterday, and to pray my hair doesn’t get too gray, yes; This Mother’s Day was okay, if I may say.