On the rails to thankful...

If you've ever felt like you were looking out the window of your life, hanging onto your hat and watching it all whiz by... you've probably felt like it's time to slow down the train and get off the fast track (at least for a bit).

We were at the Y this week and my son was blow drying his hair under the blower and I realized that he's grown so much that he can't stand up straight under it anymore. What happened?  My son has grown... a lot. Pretty sure it happened this summer when I wasn't paying attention, but yowzers!

At our house we try every day to slow the wheels on the track, take time to sit back and relax. It usually happens at night during 'reading' time, but every day. And, every day I'm blessed at what my children teach me and share with me.

Sometimes it's easy to ignore them, to let them play and to do my own thing. I love it during the day when school work is done and they are occupying their own time while I work. But, the moment still comes when I have to choose between what I'm doing and their need for my attention. That's when I have to look at my track and decide which way to go. Do I take the time for the little ones or push them away until later.

The choice came this week for me. I was making great progress at cleaning off my table and accomplishing some things that had been forgotten and set aside. It felt so good. But then son came in carrying a cardboard box. He'd created a game and asked if I'd play it with him. A quick look at my table, a split second thought process fighting it in my mind... and I gave in.

Not only was this game my son created ingenious, fun and witty... it took my breath away. The details he'd put into the 'rules' and the thoughts he'd put behind the 'moves' were astounding and I almost missed his success. The track to my success needed a pit stop... and it was worth it! It only took a few minutes to show my son that I cared about his work. It only took a few minutes for me to realize what a gift he'd made for us to cherish and remember together.

This game has been floating around our house now for a few days. I caught the boys playing it yesterday and the creator said to his brother, "Mom is really good at this. You should see her play... it's like it was made for her or something." Awwwww. I'm so glad I took the time. The time to cherish a moment instead of watch it flit by while holding my hat and watching out the window!