Since these moments are so small, I might have missed them...
For shame.
Tiny teardrops of water resting on my son's cheek before sliding off into his laughter and bath time splashes.
Fingers of the sun weaving through his baby hair as his chest rises and falls with the softness of an afternoon nap.
A drive to nowhere in particular with my seven-year-old when he looks out at the afternoon sky and says, "It looks like orange peel Mommy, only oranges are too bright. This sky is a smudgy orange, like peach-orange maybe."
The pride in my grandmother's voice from across the miles telling me she has all my letters, every single one. Right back to those I wrote while travelling through Asia.
The way he can't say dinosaur or hospital. 'DiN-a-Nors' and 'Hos-t-ables' make me smile.
His look across the dining room table, over the heads of our sons... over the noise... over the bubbling chaos of family mealtimes... his look that holds me.
Since these moments are so small, I might have missed them...
For shame.
What about you? Do you see the moments? If you are a writer, do you make a point of seeing?
Oh, Tab, what precious moments!! It's very easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to pay attention to the little things. But yes, I really do try to savor those special things--the icecream smile, the loose hairs that need tucking, the bike ride with my 6 yo who just learned to ride, etc. I want to capture those moments and cherish them in my heart!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Jody. Me too :)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah! (and since you've written about them, it seems you didn't mis them. Huzzah!)
ReplyDeleteGreat list! It's hard sometimes to stop the business and just look. :O)
ReplyDeleteI've always found myself to be a bit odd b/c I've seen the moments, soaked in the moments and studied the small moments of life.
ReplyDeleteOdd,
Wendy
To me, these small moments are what is important in life. The big flashy ones are fun and memorable, but the small ones sustain us on a day to day basis.
ReplyDeleteTabitha, I love the way you've captured some of the meaningfulness of these moments in your writing.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Especially when writers like you evoke them! Your blog has a new look, doesn't it? LOVE IT!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites? Signing Christmas hymns to my daughter, quite the present! And having her ancient infant eyes capture my gaze with the knowledge that SHE KNEW about the Savior!!! Hope to carry that one to my grave.
This is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI get mad at myself when I'm so in my head that someone special is talking to me, and I realize I didn't hear them.
Oh these are perfect tender moments. Thank you for writing about them so beautifully! I try to capture these moments in my writing and hopefully I have,
ReplyDeleteI ate this up and then kissed the dimple in my son's cheek. I love those moments! I make a point to bring them out in my writing, or at least try to!
ReplyDeleteI love the moments you mentioned in the post. Treasure them. That would be my advice to everyone. Take the time to treasure even the smallest of moments, the ones that seem insignificant. Slow down and hold them in your heart and memory.
ReplyDeleteThis is so gorgeous, wow. Thanks for sharing! I try to see the little things every day. It's when I do that I sleep and dream the best. That I feel like I've lived.
ReplyDeleteLovely. My daughter used to say hostable too. She says it right now, and that's kind of sad. I love those little moments, but it's easy to overlook them.
ReplyDeleteI try my best to see the moment. People you love are not going to be around forever. Make every day, every moment count. And take pictures.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
What wonderful moments to have witnessed.
ReplyDeleteLoved the write. most enjoyable.
Yvonne.
No shame to you...you didn't miss the moments, you celebrated them.
ReplyDeleteYes. I love these moments.
ReplyDeleteThey're so much sweeter with words like these, though.
Thank you :)
Great reminder that we need to hang onto those moments and even write them down, because my memory is getting worse and worse.
ReplyDeleteMm, you're so yummy Tab! I've been keeping a keen eye open for just run of the mill things I might other wise miss for use in my WIP. Are we on the same wave length or what? It's nice up here isn't it? ;)
ReplyDeleteIt takes time to practice seeing, but when we do, it's so worth it. Beautiful post. Beautiful moments.
ReplyDeleteI really love your way with words, Tabitha. Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right - those moments are easily missed in the busyness of life, but they are the times that are most precious. They're the things we think we'll remember, but never do.
I am glad we are all stopping to see those moments. I must admit, I have missed a fair few just trying to find myself. But the more I open my eyes to those around me the more I see... funny that :)
ReplyDeleteAnother beautiful piece, Tabitha. I must say, I can almost imagine your soft voice whispering these "moments" and the way you describe them it is almost I can see them happening before me like a reel of film playing in my mind's eye.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I have my own "moments" that I see all the time. They take me to another place, another time. It is good to dream. As a writer, I tend to see others POV in ways unimaginable to others.
Write on!
I try to make of point of noticing the little things. Sometimes it's weird, the minute little details that stick in my mind. I try to use them in my writing whenever I can.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
easy to see right past things... those moments could be missed and presumably one day will, as that moment you don't notice slipping by
ReplyDeleteyou will always remember as the good times :)
I admit that I too often miss these moments, for shame!!! Today I am encouraged so I pick up my pen and begin writing again, I open my eyes and see the lovely blessings that lay all around me!
ReplyDeleteHow touching! I love the moments you've captured with words. Some of mine are the feel of my husband's hand on the small of my back as we walk through a crowd, the appreciative look my daughter gives me as I cuddle her baby, and the sound of my late father's voice in an old video.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories.
Aww, these are indeed precious moments, and you have such a beautiful list there.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that sometimes we are moving so fast that we don't stop to notice these things. These are the moments we will miss the most later.
*sniff, sniff* Oh, Tabitha, this is so beautiful and emotional and real. I worry too often about the moments I miss with my children, completely unaware that it's even happening. They grow so fast, and it's too easy to miss it!
ReplyDeleteNo shame. Only blessings. And the heart to claim and love every bit that presents itself. It's one of the best gifts we get as writers - seeing eyes.
ReplyDelete