Life is precious. Life is a gift. We say those words often, but how often do we live like we believe it? Why must a sudden tragedy always remind us to hug our loved ones and express our love? I say, don't wait for those reminders. Do it just because you can.
Sometimes I get teased for putting so much effort into birthdays and other celebrations. The truth is, I love to celebrate! I love an excuse to buy a gift, plan a party, go out for a nice dinner and make my family and friends feel special. Life is worth celebrating now. Right now!
In my eyes, virtually every achievement is worth celebrating. How you decide to celebrate is up to you. While some celebrations can be as simple as a trip to your favorite ice cream shop and others can be as extravagant as a ritzy vacation. Whatever your reason is to celebrate (and whatever your budget may be), just do something special to seize the moment and enjoy life. Because, let's face it, tragedy is all around us. Destruction, divorce, disease, and death... we've all experienced life's disappointments one way or another. So, why not raise the bar and live life's grand moments with a little extra flair and excitement? Let's make happy memories and celebrate life the best way possible.
Take a moment and think about which life achievements you've celebrated with loved ones. Surely you'll think of birthdays, weddings, graduations, babies, new jobs, and promotions. Why stop there? Life isn't easy and everyone has different goals and achievements. I say we celebrate new cars, new homes, new pets, good health, good report cards, no homework, a completed home/school project, the end of a hard school/work week... my point is, simply come up with reasons to just live in the moment more frequently.
I'll say it again. Life is precious. Life is a gift. Maybe those words struck you differently this time. Maybe you thought of a reason to celebrate today. I hope you did.
Here's a song that always makes me smile and reminds me that life is filled with precious memories. I hope it encourages you to celebrate all of life's sentimental moments -- both big and small.
You see it in sitcoms, cartoons, and comic strips on a regular basis -- moms and dads daydreaming about the day their children turn 18 so they can cut them off and throw them into the real world. In my eyes, 18 is hardly an adult, but I guess you have to draw the line somewhere. Still, that is no excuse to give your children the boot and send them on their way. That is, unless you have children who spend their adult years like Alan from the Hangover trilogy. See the example below...
Anyway, the point I am getting to is this... I see no reason to turn my kids loose just because they turn into adults. No matter what happens, Ava will always be my daughter -- and this goes for any future child/children I am blessed with. I will never stop being my child's mom and it is my life's goal to always be a part my child's life.
This summer, as with tradition, Dan, Ava, and I will venture to Tennessee to spend a week-long vacation in a gorgeous three-bedroom, private cabin in the Smoky Mountains with my parents as well as my sister (Kathleen) and brother-in-law (Brad). During this week-long vacation we'll hit our favorite spots, go on hikes, try new restaurants, relax at the cabin, go swimming, and, most likely, go on new adventures -- last year Dan and Brad went bungee jumping. It'll be a week of quality family time and that in itself is my favorite part.
While Dan and I have plans for taking our little family on vacations of our own, I am grateful that we can travel with our extended families as well. There is just something about being on vacation that makes us different people. Maybe it's because we're not a home... maybe it's because we're away from work... maybe it's because we have no real obligations. All I know is, when I'm on vacation my mind is clear and I don't worry like I do when I'm at home. Personally, I think I'm more fun on vacation. I'm willing to try new foods, see new sights, and experience new things.
While on vacation, people are more likely to splurge on souvenirs and adventures. I'm not saying we become someone that we're not when we go on vacation, I'm saying that we show a different side of ourselves. Take my dad for example. One winter, my parents, Dan, Kathleen, Brad, and I spent a weekend in the Dells. Letting the "kids" take the lead, my dad joined us on a wide variety of water rides -- many of them he had no idea what to expect. After coming down a single tube slide, my dad reached the bottom and, in a slight panic, he started thrashing around, attempting to "swim" to shore. Kathleen and I rushed to his side and, as we helped him up, we called out, "Just stand up!" When he realized where he was, we all laughed when he admit, "Oh gee, I thought I was in a deep pool." To this day, we cannot tell that story without cracking up.
In April 2014, Dan's sister (Stefanie) came with us to California. During this trip, Stefanie and Ava both got to experience Disneyland for the very first time. Sure, Ava won't remember her experience, but for Aunt Stefanie it was a wonderful way to bond and share something extra special with her niece.
While visiting extended family in the U.P. (Michigan), Dan, Ava, and I shared a cabin with Dan's parents and Stefanie. One night, after Ava went to bed, Dan and I enjoyed some wine, cheese, and crackers with his parents and Stefanie. That night we stayed up late and had one of the best conversations we ever shared -- I can't even begin to describe the amount of love that poured out as we spoke. I believe that it's moments like these that keep families close.
As a child, vacations for my sister and I were an opportunity to stay up past our bedtime, watch TV in bed, eat dessert more frequently (or even as a meal), and do things we wouldn't get to do at home. Vacations are an opportunity to say you did something extra special with the ones you're closest with. Vacations are an excuse to take more photos and more home videos. Vacations are an excuse to bond with loved ones in a whole new way.
I want my children to grow up seeing their extended family in ways that Dan and I have seen them -- spontaneous, adventurous, and even extra silly. Ava is blessed to have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who absolutely love and adore her. I want her to have special memories with me and Dan, but I want her to have special memories with the extended family as well. In return, I'm hoping that someday Ava will want me and Dan to be part of her family circle. Just like I don't want to cut off Ava, I'm praying that she won't cut me off as well -- the street goes both ways.
Vacations don't have to be far away, expensive, or long to be enjoyable. I've stayed overnight in a hotel, relatively close to home, just to "get away" for a night with family. Still, no matter how I vacation, I'm always going spend that precious time with the ones I love.
