Earlier this month we were able to take a trip to my favorite place on earth—-Disneyland.
Yes, it really is my favorite place on earth and I could talk about why for hours and hours. However, that is not what this post is about.
Today’s post is about this, my favorite photo from the vacation.
It’s a photo of my dad taking a picture of my Grace.
I don’t know if any of you will know what I am asking when I say, “Do you ever take pictures with your heart—when you see something that you want to remember forever… so you look very carefully as to record every detail and then try your best to lock that image away so you’ll have it for always?”
If you know what I’m talking about then I must not be the only one who does this.
This picture was one of those moments.
And someday far away in the future when I’m least expecting it I’ll catch a glimpse of some shiny pink fabric or a fellow in a blue ball cap and suddenly I’ll be back here again watching my dad with my daughter. And then I’ll smile and probably cry but whatever happens in that distant future when I remember this moment I’ll stop and thank God again for my family.
This is my favorite week of the year. I love to reflect on the year that is about to close and to plan improvements for the year to come. I usually spend these next few weeks in fits of excitement—making charts, setting goals, reading self help books, and over hauling the house. And while that is going on as scheduled this year it is accompanied with some serious contemplation over the direction that I want for both myself and my family.
Over the next few days I plan to write out my thoughts and my goals for the up coming year. As I do this I will be setting some goals for the family.
One of these goals will be to go, as a family, out to eat one night a month. Each month we will have to pick some place new (which won’t be hard—we can’t ever afford to eat out so we rarely do) and then try something new. We started that this week. It was awesome! However, I can’t tell you where we went (or else you’ll know how lame my husband and I really are) but I can tell you this—as we sat there together in a tiny booth in a crowded restaurant eating lousy food I took another one of those heart camera shots. My kids were so happy and for that time all was right in the world. It was that night I felt like I was on the right track for setting some different kinds of goals for this year.
You see, my parents have been creating wonderful, meaningful moments for me my entire life—even now as an adult—and I want to be as wonderful for my children (and even if our happy memories only are taking place in really terrible eating establishments). But how do I do it?
Which brings me to this: I want to close this post by asking a sincere question— We can’t all go to Disneyland every day (oh that I could) or even out to eat every night. But we can do things to help bring our families closer together and make our children feel loved and needed and special. So what are you planning this year to help improve your family? What will you be doing to help your children feel loved? What specific goals do you have to help create memorable moments?
I really am interested. I want my children to have their own special memories tucked away in their hearts to be used in the times ahead, as they get older, and life isn’t always as simple as it is now. Memories they can look back on and remember how they were so loved.
(Because that is what they are—so very much loved.)
Happy New Year and here’s to making this one a year to remember.
Happy New Years to you too – one of the things I remember as a child, was that my mother ALWAYS had time for us, whether it was to teach me how to ride the bike, making a puzzle for me, sitting down, listening to me and I want my girls to have the same feeling when they grow up – that, in spite of being a full time working single mother, I always have time for them – small or big, I’ll stop what I’m doing and tend to their request. That’s what I’ll focus on during 2012
Such a sweet post 🙂 I’ve been thinking, as well, about how I can make these next 3 months before baby#2 comes, a special time just for me, Ryan, and Charlotte. We don’t have much time with just the 3 of us left. One thing I love to do is get all 3 of us in the kitchen, put on some fun music, and cook something really great. Like homemade pizza or brownies. Happy New Year girls – I wish you the best!
One thing I have been working on it to make sure to spend one on one time each day with each of my kids. The goal is at least 15 minutes. I also want to start taking my older girls on dates. Even if it doesn’t cost any money, just to have that special time with them.
I’m going to try to be more involved in my kids’ interests and activities. I need to do that before they get to their teens and completely shut me out 🙂 BTW, I LOVE this blog. You ladies do an amazing job with your projects and thoughtful posts. Definitely one of my favorites on Bloglovin.
I want my kids to cheer for each other and know that our family is a team. A friend was reflecting on this idea and it resonated with me. So, I’m trying to change the general attitude about sporting events, recitals, etc. Instead of my kids being dragged along, I want them to feel like they’re there with a purpose (at least for the bigger events). I want them to learn to celebrate other people’s accomplishments in addition to their own. Love this post, thanks.
Happy New Year!
What an interesting post; it is something we have talked about in our family recently. My parents were quite poor when we were growing up, yet my sister and I never knew it. Mother and Daddy made tihngs special like a backwards dinner or pitching a teepee in the backyard and allowing us to roast hot dogs. Our vacations weren’t expensive — usually a few days on the river or a few travelling to historic landmarks (they are free! and we read books about them before we went with our parents), sleeping in one hotel room with our entire family sprawled whereever, and packing lunches and dinners while having only one nice meal out.
I did these same things with my son, who is now 29. Every Christmas we make a ginger bread house, decorate it, and then watch “White Christmas.” For his birthday we have “backwards day” where dessert is for breakfast and he got to pick all the food for the day. We decorated for holidays, had friends over (sometimes his whole class!) for hot dog roasts. We hiked and packed picnics and saw movies on Thanksgiving.
As I look at this, I see that it was the time I spent with him, or with my parents when I was the child, that meant the most. It’s not that every day is special, but finding a way to make special days or creating customs or traditions that are yours alone.
Sorry for the rant; this is a topic near and dear to my heart!
Enjoy your children! Love them! Laugh with them!
My favorite memories, with both my parents, and now my own children, are definitely those spontaneous moments when everyone is playing and laughing together. At my home, it generally revolves around music and dancing, or Daddy wrestling with the kids, but they are genuine, happy moments that always make me smile to think about.
This is such a great post, and a sweet picture of your dad and Grace. One of the things that I remembered just the other day and has been on my mind is a memory from growing up. We rarely went out to eat, and one day, my dad took my sister and me to the grocery store. We asked him why, and he said we were going to have a party. He let us pick out a frozen pizza, and a 2 liter of soda (which we also rarely had). We had a party, with just my parents and my sister and me, and we loved it.
Have fun with your memory making!