Let NOTHING overshadow our present moment

Ever since becoming a parent, i tend to think about future in terms of life stages of my daughter. I dream about helping her do her homework, cheering her on the soccer field, attending her recitals. I picture myself being a super-involved school-mom, driving her from school to some extracurricular practice. I think about all the conversations we will be able to have. I fantasize about the times when she will have her own distinct music interests, and how i will do everything to share them. I can see us running to concerts and shows together. I look forward to helping her through the inevitable teenage angst, sharing my own experiences without being preachy or overbearing. I visualize her as a young lady, smart and accomplished. I imagine spending Saturday afternoon shopping for high-heal shoes together, family hiking trips, and all the times in between. I wonder what it would be like to hold her baby - my own grandchild. I wish for all of these things to come. But, i also now realize, i must not rush time. As beautiful as the future will be, the present is much more precious and must be appreciated. Now our daughter may be still little, but my husband and i both have our youth, our physical abilities, our fresh, still hormonal, feelings toward each other. In the future, when all those things i dream of will start coming true, other things that we now take for granted will surely be lost. As our daughter gains her abilities, we slowly loose ours -- this is nature. When she is old enough to go dancing for 10 hours in 90 degree weather at a music festival, i may not have the lungs to suffer through an hour. When she starts making her own salsa, i may not have the stomach to handle the chilies. In a time when she wishes to run a marathon together, my knees may not be up to the task. So, if i live in anticipation of the future, i will end up with regrets about the past, nostalgic about things lost. Therefore, i must constantly remind myself: "Let NOTHING overshadow our present moment." There is, truly, no time like the present. So, lets enjoy NOW to the fullest, at every stage of our lives, and take things as a package, those things that we have and those that we yet do not.

Grandparents were here!

We surely had some busy weeks behind us! Grandma and grandpa just departed, after a 10 day stay here. They were on the way back from skiing in Salt Lake City, and grandpa was really excited about the possibility of moving there, while this very idea was irritating to no end to grandma. I think their entire visit had a little bit of this controversial vibe to it.
I was relived that Sari met them with so much affection and no apprehension, even though we were not very good about maintaining Skype communications in their absence. (Its not that we don't like Skype, its just that we have pretty busy evenings, and may be not so much to chat about over the phone, so we get a bit lazy and wrapped up in our own stuff). But the silver lining was that they were able to see Sara after so much time away and be surprised and amazed about how much she had grown up, how much more mature she is, and how positive and fun of a person she is becoming. Especially my mother was pointing out the difference between Sari's reactions to things back then and her reactions now. I felt so proud of Sara and her grown up ways!
While they were here, grandpa went with me to pick her up from school on the first day. He wore and helmet and skiing goggles to preschool! No, i don't know why. I think he wished to be funny and amusing, but i am actually not sure of the effect this was having on Sara's classmates...Although it may be ok now, i am sure in a few years she wouldn't be amused by such antics, but probably rather embarrassed, but for now it was all in good fun.
During this visit my father brought my baby video, and he was really anxious to show it to Sari. She watched with attention, but i think liked the music the most. Or, may be she liked the graduation video that followed. I think we shell re-play this at a later date for more entertainment.
We only ended up with one Saturday all together, so we went to the zoo, and all enjoyed this visit. Again, just like a year before, they brought out the live bunnies for petting, and had bunny ears craft. Its sort of nice to do the same event once a year, because it really highlights the growing maturity and understanding. I enjoy so much seeing how Sara develops, how she is becoming wiser every day, more positive every day, more interesting as a person, with her own ideas. I can't wait to see more. If someone would ask me, which is the favorite age, i would not hesitate to answer "this one, right now!".