'Just A Thought

The weekend went way too fast. Our daughter returned to college. Our son went back to school. Tim is back at work. It's even a bit sad that the laundry pile has slowed down just a bit, too! :) But it was a wonderful weekend and memories were made, moments were cherished and we were together. We had a candlelight Easter dinner with plenty of food. (I cooked Friday night and Saturday and loved it!) I even used our best dishes. It was worth every moment of preparation, participation and clean-up!

I've been thinking about the weekend from a little different perspective. The joy didn't just come from sitting at the table and eating. The joy came from every moment involved. I loved planning the menu and asking each person for their request. I enjoyed shopping for them. It was fun to plan what to prepare when and how to make sure the rolls were hot at just the right moment while other dishes were kept cool or warm. Making the table look just right was a pleasure. When Rachel walked in after work and commented on how everything looked and how the aroma of food filled the house, I was thrilled. Then sitting down together was a tremendous blessing. But it wasn't just one moment that made it special. It was witnessing each special moment woven into the tapestry of a special time...a celebration...being family...and recognizing our blessings along the way.

Many times our hearts ache for our little one/s in China. When I read or hear about other parents much farther along in their journeys and realize how very long they have waited, my heart feels heavy. Then I have to remind myself that it will be such a wonderful moment when we hold our little JennaBeth (and maybe EmmaKate) in our arms. But the joy of that moment would not be the same without all the joys of the moments we have now...getting to know other adoptive parents, learning about faith in a whole new way, watching our children grow in their love and excitement for their little sister/s, meeting people along the way in the offices, doing life with family and friends, and counting our blessings day by day, moment by moment, step by step. If we are so consumed by the blessings ahead, we're missing the blessings we're given today...and the journey of blessings would not be as rich and full as it was intended to be.

The same can be said of life. If we're too busy to cherish each breath and each moment we're given today, we're missing out on so many blessings by focusing solely on the moments ahead. Yet every moment, every breath, every friend, every step is indeed a gift! Sometimes it's so easy to miss what we have as we anticipate what we're striving for. Although life isn't perfect and every moment isn't easy, we are blessed and need to count each blessing in our lives.

Sure, I can hardly wait to see our little girl/s wearing an Easter hat and adorable dress with frilly socks and shiny shoes. But I'm enjoying the hugs, laughter, friendships, joy, love, prayers and life we're sharing along the journey, too. I'm loving the moments around the table as the candlelight flickers on the faces of those I love and have been blessed with in life today. I even enjoy watching the laundry piles rapidly grow for that means my precious family is closeby. And when the dishwasher is humming and the pans are soaking in the sink, that's a blessing, too. For we have been together. As I read your emails, hear your voices and share life with you, I am thankful for the joy in this journey. It may be long...but we're never alone! What blessings you all are to us. What a journey full of blessings...every step of the way!
Cherishing the moments,
Terri and family