The Little Things

Indulge me a little sentimental goo for a moment....por favor.

I have been trying to be more conscious of the little things in life. It's amazing that the more aware I am...the more things I realize that I love in my life. They are little things...but take them away and life would feel empty. 

Today was the day I realized that I LOVE how the kids run crazy around the house as soon as the vacuum cleaner is turned on. Laps and laps and laps around the house. As soon as I turn it off...back to whatever they were doing.

Another little thing ...The kids were in the basement this evening watching a Christmas movie. I was in the mood to play some Christmas carols on the piano...and I instinctively knew that as soon as they heard it - they would be ditching the movie and running up the stairs to dance while I played. I timed it. Took 4 seconds until I heard the stampede. I love that music with their mom trumps "Santabuddies"...any day of the week.

And yet another little thing...hiding under the covers with the kids waiting for Daddy to come home from his trip. Fresh out of the bath...smelling their Johnson and Johnson tangle-free goodness under the covers. Whispers of "Shhhh...he's coming" coupled with outbursts of giggles as Bryce treats the huddling, covered clump like a mosh pit. 

Another...having Tom home after days of being gone. It's not having the extra set of hands to help me...it's seeing how my children come alive to an entirely different level when they are reunited with him. Hearing Bradley say, "I missed you Dad",  as I watch Bryce scale him like a rock wall....and seeing Karah light up as she received her "prize"....a pink pen that says "California". She will have no memories of the ocean whenever she looks at it - but she will know that her Daddy was thinking of her...even when he was 1,555.59 miles away.

I love smelling "travel" on him as I hugged him back home. A blend of re-circulated air, suitcase shirt, and rental car upholstery....textured with a touch of 34 degree 5 O'clock shadow.  Mmmmm! 

 

Shortly after coming home, Tom was called upon to go give a friend a blessing. We couldn't bare to let him out of our sight....so we loaded up in his truck....watched "One Republic" concert videos while we waited for him....and then each got a shake to enjoy as we drove around looking at Christmas lights. Hearing the kids yell "Bingo!" whenever they saw a house lit up...while listening to "Christmas Through the Years"... another little thing I love.

All of these thing are nothing big...they are actually quite small...but collectively? Collectively they amount to joy unmeasured in this beautiful life I am blessed to share with them.

It is true...."The Little Things Are The Big Things".