Living in the Moment

There are moments in life when you're experiencing something and while you're in that moment,

you don't fully appreciate it. You are flustered, frustrated, rushed...whatever the feeling might be -

and it passes you by. Moments that you look back on and just know that it was something special.

You wish you had taken the time and really savored it, not taken it for granted.

But it happens none the less. Circumstance - kids screaming, crying, all 3 running in different directions...

it all just preoccupies us. I've had too many "Hindsight is 20/20" times in my life where

moments I know are special and meaningful pass right by me at 100 mph and I am done with it.

I've had too many family vacations where I wished they'd be over, only to look back on them

years later and realize that it was very special and I wish I had known that then.

I am really starting to get the hang of this fully being in the moment attitude. I'm loving it.

Ella cries? That's ok, I can soothe her.

Charlie lost his shoes? Ok buddy, no big deal, let's go look for them together.

Kate wants to do the slide for the 37th time? Go on, big girl... you can do it.

It's so easy to get frustrated right away and snap at the kids

when really, they aren't doing anything wrong. Kids mess up, they fall, they lose their shoes.

They're kids.

Taking a second to remember that makes the whole world of difference to me.

A night out with the family tonight was just what we needed. We visited a pumpkin patch...

We've gone to Pa's Pumpkin Patch almost every year since my very first nephew was 2. He's 10 now.

My dad wasn't feeling good tonight so he didn't come with us. We also tried a new patch this year.

Ella was in her element. She loves animals. She kept making my mom follow her around the little

petting zoo and those poor animals, Ella wasn't exactly delicate with them.

Train engine ride around the patch...that poor conductor with all of our 9 kids.

It thrills me when my siblings, well, anyone really, loves on my babies.

The nearly impossible shot of all the cousins together.

The nieces and nephews. My kids adore them all.

My older brother's family

My mom and her oldest

Eric and me. I look tired (because I am).

As things progressed tonight, I thought to myself, "This is a moment I'm going to look back on

in a year with fondness and I'm relishing it right now."

What a breakthrough that is for me.