Precious times...

I didn't think I would be writing a post tonight, but then I went over to Steph's blog and read her post, and it got me all weepy! She talked about how quickly her children are growing, (it is amazing the rapid speed in which these little ones of ours grow, is it not?!) The post hit home with me, as just this very evening, Mike got home earlier than usual, it was such a beautiful and cool night that we all went out to the front lawn. As Presley sat on my lap, Mike and I sat on the front steps and watched as Mikah and Jett chased each other around the yard, yelling each others names, playing their version of 'hide and seek' (Mikah showing Jett where to hide before closing her eyes to count and seek, LOL!) Mike and I watched and laughed, occasionally looking at one another and smiling, that smile that says a thousand words, words that need not be spoken. Jett yelling out "MIKAH come here!" and basking in the joy of seeing their love for one another. Together they explored rocks around the trees, walked the brick wall down the side of the house, laughing and rolling in the grass, it was great. I wish I could eloquently articulate the feelings that stir when I watch my children 'be', but I think, for once, I might just be at a loss for words.
My mother has always said how precious this particular time with my children is, and I know this is true. Precious is most certainly the word I would use to describe Mikah tonight, as we listened to her made up story about Princess' and castles, or when she asked all of us to come together and have a 'family hug and kiss' (something she requests regularly), and when Jett walked up to Mike, as soon as he arrived home, and simply said "Daddy, Will you hold me??" Or this afternoon, as I watched Mikah and Jett playing on the back patio, and Presley scooting across the patio to join them, precious is indeed, the only word I can think of.
My heart breaks a little bit each day, as I see how fast it all goes by. I wish I could make time stand still, just hang out here for a while longer, like we did this evening on the front steps. I adore how vivid it all seemed. Don't you love those moments when you are so 'aware'? So completely and totally in tune, to the fact that what you are experiencing, in that very moment, is precious. That is really rare. Not because precious times in our life are rare, we are amidst them constantly, but rarely do we find ourselves empty enough to absorb them. We are always so full of stress, or worries, or just the busyness of life. We may look back on them and think they were great, but to know, in that moment, that what you are experiencing is something beautiful, is an amazing thing, or better said... a precious thing.